ABSTRACT The external morphology of the larval steps in the development of the Anomuran crab Allopetrolisthes punctatus is described using material obtained under laboratory conditions and from field samples. All stages are presented with photos taken with a scanning electron microscope. For the first time in this species, and in a similar way as described for the whole family Porcellanidae, it was possible to identify one prezoea, two zoeal and one megalopa stages. The main difference between the zoeal stages is the translucid spine in the center of the telson of the zoea II, surrounded by five gross setae at each side. Also, we also studied first juvenile stages to know the size at which sexual pleopods appear, which in our samples it occurred at 1.97 mm of carapace length.