Limb loss and feeding ability in the juvenile mud crab Scylla olivacea: Implications of limb autotomy for aquaculture practice

Fazhan, Hanafiah; Waiho, Khor; Shu-Chien, Alexander Chong; Fujaya, Yushinta; Wang, Youji; Liew, Hon Jung; Chen, Cuiying; Abualreesh, Muyassar H.; Jaya-Ram, Annette; Ahmad-Ideris, Abdul Rahim

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105553

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The antennae length of mud crabs in the genus Scylla is short, thus their chelipeds would be the first body parts that will be in contact with other conspecifics. Mud crabs are aggressive, and they use their chelipeds for various purposes, including feeding and communication-mate guarding, and play important role in exhibiting signals to attract females (Fazhan et al, 2022;Rozaimi et al, 2023;Waiho et al, 2015). In contrast, antenna-to-antenna contact is commonly exhibited by lobsters and crayfish that possess long antennae (Vickery et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparative study on the antennae morphology and ultrastructure of three mud crab species of the genus Scylla from Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia

Achdiat,

Tan,

Fujaya

et al. 2024

Microscopy Res & Technique

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Crustaceans possess a range of sensory organs crucial in sensory perception, communication, and various ecological functions. Understanding morphological and functional differences in antennae among species could validate taxonomic differentiation and ecological adaptations. The antennae morphology and ultrastructure of mud crab species within the Scylla genus are poorly understood, and their role in ecological adaptation and species differentiation remains unexplored. This study aimed to describe and compare the morphology and ultrastructure of antennae in Scylla olivacea, Scylla tranquebarica, and Scylla paramamosain. Antennae were carefully excised from each crab and subjected to morphological, morphometric, and ultrastructural analysis. The study revealed that the antennae of Scylla species exhibit similar overall morphology, with a series of segments that tapered toward the upper end. All species possess non‐branched single setae on the upper end of each segment. The number of antennae segments varied between species, with S. paramamosain having significantly more segments than S. olivacea. Additionally, the length and width of antenna segments differed among the species, with S. tranquebarica having a rougher antenna surface compared to S. olivacea and S. paramamosain. Our findings suggest that Scylla's antennae are distinct between species, especially in the number of segments and setae size. Such difference might be related to ecological adaptation. The role of antennae in sensory perception and social behavioral cues in mud crabs warrants further investigation. This study serves as a foundational reference for future research on the taxonomy, ecological adaptation, and sensory behaviors in the Scylla genus.Research Highlights Variations and similarities in morphology and ultrastructure of three Scylla species can be found in the antennae. Scylla paramamosain had significantly higher number of segments than Scylla olivacea in morphology feature. The antennae surface of Scylla tranquebarica was rougher than that of S. olivacea and S. paramamosain. Antennae of three Scylla species possess non‐branched single setae.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparative study on the antennae morphology and ultrastructure of three mud crab species of the genus Scylla from Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia

Achdiat,

Tan,

Fujaya

et al. 2024

Microscopy Res & Technique

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“…The right-handed biasness among brachyuran crabs is common, especially in predatory brachyuran species, in which the presence of right-handed major cheliped would facilitate easier handling of molluscan preys that are often asymmetric, dextrogerous, and exhibit right-handed shell coiling ( Goés & Fransozo, 1998 ; Mariappan, Balasundaram & Schmitz, 2000 ; Dietl & Hendricks, 2006 ). The dominant right-handed individuals observed in S. olivacea thus could be driven by its natural feeding habits ( Seed & Hughes, 1995 ) as hard-shelled bivalves are among the primary consumed food of mud crabs of the genus Scylla ( Viswanathan & Raffi, 2015 ; Ghazali et al, 2017 ; Fazhan et al, 2022 ). Similarly, in other portunids that exhibit right-handedness, such as Gazami crabs Portunus trituberculatus , Masunari et al (2020) noticed that P. trituberculatus exclusively used their major (right) cheliped to crack open shells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of the research that have been done on chelipeds of mud crabs are related to limb autotomy and regeneration ( Quinitio & Estepa, 2011 ; De la Cruz-Huervana, Quinitio & Corre, 2019 ; Fujaya et al, 2020 ; Gong et al, 2022 ), a process that affects the physiology and behaviour of these animals ( Fazhan et al, 2022 ), and is the primary focus of mud crab aquaculture sector for growth enhancement and optimisation, as well as soft-shell crab production ( Fujaya et al, 2020 ; Rahman et al, 2020 ). In addition, there is research on the chelae crushing force at multiple gape sizes in S. olivacea conducted by Yap, Lin & Todd (2013) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterochely and handedness in the orange mud crab Scylla olivacea: implication for future culture practice optimisation

Rozaimi

Shu-Chien

Wang

et al. 2023

PeerJ

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Asymmetric body traits in bilateral organisms are common and serve a range of different functions. In crustaceans, specifically among brachyuran crabs, heterochely and handedness in some species are known to aid in behavioural responses such as food acquisition, and sexual and territorial displays. However, the heterochely of the intertidal mud crab genus Scylla is still poorly understood. This study investigated the cheliped morphometric characteristics of orange mud crab Scylla olivacea and the relation of heterochely and handedness to sex. Scylla olivacea is heterochelous, with predominant right-handed (70.2%). Three morphometric variables, i.e., propodus length (PL), propodus depth (PD), and propodus width (PW) were significantly larger in the right cheliped and the estimated handedness based on these three variables were consistent with the presence of molariform teeth. The effect of sex had no influence on the occurrence of heterochely or handedness. The frequency of left-handedness increased with size, especially in males. We postulate that handedness reversal, a phenomenon seen in other crab species when the dominant hand is lost, also occurs in S. olivacea, thereby resulting in a change in left-handedness frequency. The use of chelipeds by males in mate and territorial defenses might provide an explanation for the higher risk of losing a dominant cheliped and thus, higher left-handedness frequency compared to females. Future behavioural research could shed light on the selective forces that affect the handedness distribution in mud crabs. Knowledge on heterochely and handedness of mud crabs could be useful for future development of less aggressive crab populations by claw reversal and the optimisation of limb autotomy techniques.

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“…Examples include dropped limbs in an effort to evade a predator in lizards (Higham et al, 2013 ) and crustaceans (Juanes & Smith, 1995 ), as well as partial predation (i.e., predatory consumption of nonessential body parts), such as siphon nipping in bivalves (Lindsay, 2010 ; Meyer & Byers, 2005 ) or loss of individual arms in sea stars (e.g., Bingham et al, 2000 ). In these instances, the nonlethal injury itself may reflect a trade‐off, as dropped limbs may increase survival (Congdon et al, 1974 ; Emberts et al, 2017 ) while simultaneously creating an energy deficit because of a decrease in the amount and quality of food consumed following limb loss (e.g., Fazhan et al, 2022 ; Juanes & Smith, 1995 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Past energy allocation overwhelms current energy stresses in determining energy allocation trade‐offs

Griffen

Bolander

Blakeslee

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Regeneration of lost appendages is a gradual process in many species, spreading energetic costs of regeneration through time. Energy allocated to the regeneration of lost appendages cannot be used for other purposes and, therefore, commonly elicits energetic trade‐offs in biological processes. We used limb loss in the Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus sanguineus to compare the strength of energetic trade‐offs resulting from historic limb losses that have been partially regenerated versus current injuries that have not yet been repaired. Consistent with previous studies, we show that limb loss and regeneration results in trade‐offs that reduce reproduction, energy storage, and growth. As may be expected, we show that trade‐offs in these metrics from historic limb losses far outweigh trade‐offs from current limb losses, and correlate directly with the degree of historic limb loss that has been regenerated. As regenerating limbs get closer to their normal size, these historical injuries get harder to detect, despite the continued allocation of additional resources to limb development. Our results demonstrate the importance of and a method for identifying historic appendage losses and of quantifying the amount of regeneration that has already occurred, as opposed to assessing only current injury, to accurately assess the strength of energetic trade‐offs in animals recovering from nonlethal injury.

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Limb loss and feeding ability in the juvenile mud crab Scylla olivacea: Implications of limb autotomy for aquaculture practice

Cited by 8 publications

References 36 publications

A comparative study on the antennae morphology and ultrastructure of three mud crab species of the genus Scylla from Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia

A comparative study on the antennae morphology and ultrastructure of three mud crab species of the genus Scylla from Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia

Heterochely and handedness in the orange mud crab Scylla olivacea: implication for future culture practice optimisation

Past energy allocation overwhelms current energy stresses in determining energy allocation trade‐offs

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