Morphometry, sexual maturity, fecundity and epibiosis of the South American spider crab Libidoclaea granaria (Brachyura: Majoidea)

SCHEJTER L.; SPIVAK E.

JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

Año: 2005 vol. 85 p. 857 - 863

0025-3154

 Libidoclaea granaria was collected as part of the bycatch of the Zygochlamys patagonica (Bivalvia: Pectinidae) fishery, between 36° and 39° 40' S and at 80 to 128 m depth. Crab densities ranged from 0 to 150 individuals.100 m–2, with a mean of 9.8 ± 20.4 individuals.100 m–2. Mature males and females ranged from 24 to 61 mm, and from 16 to 48 mm, carapace width (CW), respectively. The largest immature female measured 22.5 mm CW. The number of eggs carried by a female ranged from 1200 to 9300. Sponges were the most frequent epizoic organisms, followed by the lepadomorph cirriped Ornatoscalpellum gibberum, Serpulidae and Spirorbidae worms. Since all these organisms were reported on Z. patagonica beds, crabs have the same appearance of their habitat. Small crabs usually had naked carapaces, indicating a high moult frequency. Larger crabs instead, had epibionts on their carapaces, suggesting a lesser moult frequency. The erosion of carapace spines and the heavy epibiosis of large specimens suggest the existence of a terminal anecdysis.