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Extended parental care in a hermit crab of the genus Calcinus (Anomura: Diogenidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 January 2006

Ricardo Calado ,
Natacha Nogueira  and
Antonina dos Santos
Ricardo Calado
Affiliation:
CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8000-117 Faro, Portugal Templo Aquático, Rua de Santa Marta 27K, 1150-291 Lisboa, Portugal
Natacha Nogueira
Affiliation:
Centro de Maricultura da Calheta, Direcção Regional de Pescas, Governo Regional da Madeira, 9370-133 Calheta, Madeira, Portugal
Antonina dos Santos
Affiliation:
Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e das Pescas—IPIMAR, Avenida de Brasília, s/n. 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal
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Abstract

The present work reports the existence of extended parental care in a hermit crab species of the genus Calcinus. The species shows a high energetic investment in egg production, only producing one to six large-sized eggs. The larval development is extremely abbreviated, with the larvae hatching at an advanced zoeal stage, a rather uncommon feature among marine and non-symbiotic decapods. The sequential moults end in a glaucothoe-type larval stage that is retained inside the female's host gastropod shell, probably in complete lecithotrophy. The high maternal reproductive investment displayed by this species is certainly maximized through the retention of juveniles until they enter a suitable gastropod shell, since it considerably reduces the chances of intra- or interspecific predation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 86 , Issue 1 , February 2006 , pp. 121 - 123
Copyright
2006 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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