Summary The available information on the megalopa stage in podotrematous crabs, that is the Dromioidea, Homoloidea, Raninoidea and Tymoloidea, is reviewed. The morphology of the megalopas tends to support the relationships between these groups indicated by the zoeal stages but does not provide any additional evidence on the unresolved problem of whether or not the dromioids should be considered to be true crabs.