First zoeal stage of the Indian Ocean hydrothermal vent crab, Austinograea rodriguezensis Tsuchida & Hashimoto, 2002 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Bythograeidae).

First stage zoeas of the vent crab Austinograea rodriguezensis Tsuchida & Hashimoto, 2002 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Bythograeidae) were collected by a remotely operated vehicle from the Kairei Hydrothermal Vent, Central Indian Ridge, in January 2016 during the INDEX2016 cruise of the French registered RV Pourquoi Pas? The zoeal appendages are illustrated using confocal laser scanning microscopy and described. A comparison between first stage zoeal morphology of Gandalfus yunohana (Takeda, Hashimoto & Ohta, 2000) and A. rodriguezensis is made and, although remarkably similar, they can be distinguished by dorsal pleonal spinulation.