zoea

[ zoh-ee-uh ]

/ zoʊˈi ə /

any of the free-swimming larva of certain crustaceans, as the crab, having rudimentary legs and a spiny carapace.

Origin of zoea

1820–30; < New Latin, equivalent to Greek zō(ḗ) life + New Latin -ea -ea

zo·e·al, adjective

With crowds of its brothers and sisters, the zoea kicks about on the surface of the sea.

On the Seashore |R. Cadwallader Smith
The maggot is the larva of the fly, and the zoea is the larva of the Crab.

On the Seashore |R. Cadwallader Smith
You ask about the skipping of the Zoea stage in fresh-water decapods: is this an illustration of acceleration?

More Letters of Charles Darwin |Charles Darwin
It was called a zoea; but you can call it a Crab caterpillar or larva.

On the Seashore |R. Cadwallader Smith

As an illustration of this metamorphosis, we give figures of the Zoea Taurus in two states, viz., Fig.

The Ocean World: |Louis Figuier

zoea

/ (zəʊˈiːə) /

the free-swimming larva of a crab or related crustacean, which has well-developed abdominal appendages and may bear one or more spines

C20: New Latin, from Greek zōē life