AbstractThe first zoeal stages of the snapping shrimpsAlpheus carlaeandA. intrinsecusfrom Brazil were obtained from laboratory-hatched specimens and a detailed morphological description is provided. The morphological characteristics of both species are compared with available descriptions of otherAlpheusspecies with a known first zoeal stage. Remarks from a semi-quantitative comparison of species belonging toA. armillatusspecies complex (A. carlaeandA. brasileiro) and a comparison between larvae ofA. intrinsecusfrom two localities in Brazil are presented. It was possible to distinguish first zoea of both species from the other congeners based on morphology. No intraspecific variability was detected betweenA. intrinsecuslarvae obtained from two locations. Some structures showed differences between species of theA. armillatuscomplex. However, generalizations and conclusions based on larval morphology for taxonomic rearrangements at this point need to be made with caution and accuracy, since data of a sufficient number of species are not yet available for comparison.