On the hormonal inhibition of moulting in decapod Crustacea II. The terminal anecdysis in crabs

Abstract

In many if not most species of crabs (but not quite all) there is a limit to growth, when no more moulting or ecdysis is possible in normal circumstances. This condition of permanent anecdysis is known as the terminal anecdysis. In the spider crab Maia squinado, the last moult is the moult of puberty, when the animal finally attains sexual maturity, and this moult has different biometrical characteristics from the others. In Carcinus maenas, in contrast, the moult of puberty takes place when the animal is quite small and may be succeeded by about ten further moults before the terminal anecdysis begins.The immediate cause of the cessation of moulting in Maia squinado is shown to be the degeneration of the Y-organ, which secretes a moult-promoting hormone. In the absence of this gland and its secretion moulting can no longer continue. In Carcinus the Y-organ does not degenerate after the final ecdysis and the cause of the cessation of moulting is to be sought in the excessive production by the X-organ-sinus gland complex of the moultinhibiting hormone. This effectively prevents moulting from proceeding Removal of the X-organ-sinus gland complex in Carcinus allows ecdysis to continue, so that giant crabs can be produced in the laboratory by this means, and at the same time the life-span may be increased. The operation has no such effect on Maia. In either species injection of Y-organ extracts produces transiently the first signs of an approaching moult, in the form of a heightened blood-calcium level. In Carcinus repeated injection led to eventual ecdysis. The presence of the Y-organ is shown to be necessary for removal of the X-organ-sinus gland complex to stimulate moulting in Carcinus.Two separate methods of producing terminal anecdysis exist in crabs, both involving the hormones which normally regulate the moult cycle, but no reason is known for the existence of the phenomenon.

Relative impacts of two exotic brachyuran species on blue mussel populations in Long Island Sound

“…The average size of green crabs found at Millstone Point was < 20 mm CW during early summer. While Carcinus maenas can attain a maximum size of 85 mm CW (Carlisle 1957), 99% of the C. maenas sampled during this investigation were < 35 mm CW (e.g. Fig.…”

Adult neurogenesis and cell cycle regulation in the crustacean olfactory pathway: from glial precursors to differentiated neurons

“…Unlike most decapod species, L. emarginata exhibits determinate, rather than indeterminate, growth and has a terminal, maturational moult after which animals become anecdysic (i.e. stop moulting : Carlisle 1957;Hartnoll 1963;Hinsch 1972).…”

Conservation of Antarctic marine living resources

“…The literature suggests that anti-predator defense and enhancement of other important activities, i.e., foraging, reproduction, and mate attraction are important advantages of group living (Zahavi 1970;Lazarus 1972;Alexander 1974;Wilson 1975;Morse 1977;Bertram 1978;Rubenstein 1978;Wittenberger 1981;Antezana et al 1982;Hamner et al 1983). Crustaceans often form aggregations which function in predator defense (Baal 1953;Carlisle 1957;Stevcic 1971;Powell and Nickerson 1965;Bertness 1981) through a "selfish herd" strategy (Hamilton 1971: 295). Carlisle (1957) predators.…”

“…Crustaceans often form aggregations which function in predator defense (Baal 1953;Carlisle 1957;Stevcic 1971;Powell and Nickerson 1965;Bertness 1981) through a "selfish herd" strategy (Hamilton 1971: 295). Carlisle (1957) predators. As a result,~.…”