noun
also zo·aea zōˈēə
( plural zoe·ae -ēˌē ; or zoeas )
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek zōē life
: an early larval form of decapod crustaceans and especially of crabs and anomurans that commonly precedes the megalops and that is distinguished by the relatively large cephalothorax commonly bearing three or four long spines, the conspicuous eyes, the relatively large and fringed antennae and mouthparts used for swimming, the rudimentary thoracic appendages, and the long slender abdomen having small or no swimmerets