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Observation on the Mating Behaviour of the Helmet Crab Telmessus cheiragonus (Brachyura: Cheiragonidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2003

Michiya Kamio ,
Shigeki Matsunaga  and
Nobuhiro Fusetani
Michiya Kamio
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Aquatic Natural Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
Shigeki Matsunaga
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Aquatic Natural Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
Nobuhiro Fusetani*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Aquatic Natural Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
*
*Corresponding author, e-mail: anobu@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
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Abstract

The mating behaviour of the helmet crab, Telmessus cheiragonus, was observed in the laboratory to obtain information of its fishery management and seed production. Females always moulted before copulation and all moulting females copulated with their mates, while males performed precopulatory guarding before their mates moulted. The average duration of precopulatory guarding was 11.8±5.0 SD days. Sex ratios in experimental tanks did not influence the first guarding duration of male but diminished the female's guarded duration under female-biased treatment. Competition among males for females was observed; larger males appeared to have a competitive advantage. Males started copulation in 41.2±10.9 SD min after females moulted and the copulation lasted for 110.6±6.6 SD min. Postcopulatory guarding duration was 4.0±6.6 SD h. Small males tended not to guard and to copulate with females larger than themselves. Common features and differences in mating behaviour between T. cheiragonus and Erimacrus isenbeckii is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 83 , Issue 5 , October 2003 , pp. 1007 - 1013
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2003

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