Larvae of Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) were reared in the laboratory on hatching from
wild ovigerous females collected from Palk Bay, southeast India. The larval stages included four
zoeal stages and one megalopa. The megalopa moulted to the first crab instar. The zoeae and
megalopa were very similar to those of other portunids. The duration of each of the first two zoeal
stages was 3-4 days, the following two stages 2-3 days, and the megalopa 3-5 days, reaching the first
crab stage in 15-17 days. All zoeal and megalopal stages are described in detail and are documented
with illustrations.