Burrowing behaviour of the paddle crabOvalipes catharus(White, 1843) (Brachyura: Portunidae)

Abstract

The burrowing behaviour of Ovalipes catharus (White, 1843) is described and compared with that of some other burrowing crabs. O. catharus is a fast, back burrowing crab which makes temporary burrows in soft sand. The average time from initiation of burrowing to complete submergence was 6.5 s, there was no difference between males and females but burrowing time increased significantly with crab size. Similar morphological adaptations are required for burrowing and swimming: streamlined body shape, smooth lightly constructed exoskeleton, and flattened legs. O. catharus has a reversed respiratory current like O. guadulpensis but it differs in its burrowing behaviour. Compared to some other crabs, burrowing in O. catharus is rapid.

Burying behaviour of two sympatric crab species: <i>Cancer magister</i> and <i>Cancer productus</i>

“…The size of the animal affects the burial time, with larger animals taking longer to bury. Ovalipes catharus of comparable size to the crabs used in the present study have similar burial times (24 s; McLay and Osborne, 1985) to those observed for C. magister (26.1 s). Although C. magister buries significantly faster than C. productus (59.5 s), it is not without cost: a much larger increase in cardiac parameters and blood flow is necessary to assist this process (McGaw, 2004).…”

“…The burying style exhibited by Cancer productus is similar to that reported for the paddle crab, Ovalipes catharus, where the legs pull the animal down and a final push with the chelae submerges the animal in the sediment (McLay and Osborne, 1985). Unlike C. productus, Cancer magister excavates the sand with its legs.…”

“…2). Most of the species of crab that bury remain inactive during the day, emerging at night to forage (Garstang, 1896;Hartnoll, 1972;Caine, 1974;Schembri, 1979;Stevens et al, 1984, Taylor, 1984McLay and Osborne, 1985;Skinner and Hill, 1986;Sumpton and Smith, 1990;Abelló et al, 1991). However, only one of these works discusses an endogenous component of burying behaviour (Abelló et al, 1991).…”

“…A final push with the whole body drives the animal under the surface, thereby forcing sediment upwards. The displaced sediment settles on top of the body, leaving only the eyes, antennae and exhalant openings visible above the surface (McLay and Osborne, 1985).…”

Portunid crab predation on juvenile hard clams: effects of substrate type and prey density

“…Caine (1974) andMcLay &Osborne (1985) have provlded evidence that Ovalipes spp. are both n~orphologically and behaviorally adapted to a burrowing existence.…”