Reproductive morphology and mating behaviour in the hingebeak shrimp Rhynchocinetes durbanensis Gordon, 1936 (Decapoda: Caridea: Rhynchocinetidae) in India

Abstract

The present study tests hypotheses about sexual dimorphism in body size and morphology versus differential mating behaviours of three male ontogenetic stages (typus, intermedius and robustus morphotypes) of the hingebeak shrimp Rhynchocinetes durbanensis Gordon using canonical discriminant analysis. There is strong sexual dimorphism in this species, in that robustus morphotypes are greater in size and with larger appendages (extended third maxillipeds and major [first] chelipeds) than females. As typus males grow bigger in size, their third maxillipeds and major chelipeds become proportionately larger than those of females, and the numbers of corneous spines on the terminal segment of the maxillipeds are reduced. Although there is no sexual dimorphism in body size between typus and intermedius males and females, the robustus males are often substantially larger than females. During mating and spermatophore transfer, all male morphotypes performed similar behaviours (touching, overlapping and holding), but only intermedius and robustus morphotypes appeared to fertilize the broods of the females successfully. Robustus males were faster in approaching as well as mating with receptive females than subordinate males. When mating with robustus males, females spawned more quickly than after mating with typus and intermedius males. Additionally, the time taken for spermatophore transfer by typus males was longer. Rejection by females during the initial approach by typus males often resulted in unsuccessful spermatophore attachment. Results of this study suggest a dominance hierarchy in R. durbanensis similar to certain other rhynchocinetid species in which females appear to prefer mating with the larger robustus males.

Sexual system and sexual dimorphism in the shrimp Periclimenes brevicarpalis (Schenkel, 1902) (Caridea: Palaemonidae), symbiotic with the sea anemone Stichodactyla haddoni (Saville-Kent, 1893) in the Gulf of Mannar, India

“…Sagi, 1985; Kuris et al, 1987;Mossolin & Bueno, 2002;Mantel & Dudgeon, 2005;Lima et al, 2014) and Rhynchocinetes sp. (Correa et al, 2000;Thiel et al, 2010;Prakash et al, 2016)), mating systems in which sexual dimorphism is remarkable. Either males may attain body sizes larger than females displaying classic sexual dimorphism (in polygamous species; see Thiel et al, 2010) or instances where sexual dimorphism is reverse (females > males, in promiscuous species; see Bauer, 1976).…”

“…(Ra'anan & Sagi, 1985) and Rhynchocinetes sp. (Thiel et al, 2010;Prakash et al, 2016), are polygamous. Other species exhibit even more complex sexual behaviors such as alternative mating tactics in species of Macrobrachium and Rhynchocinetes (Bauer, 2004).…”

“…Similarly, among pandalids (Pandalidae Haworth, 1825), Atlantopandalus propinqvus Sars 1870 exhibits a gonochoric sexual system while Pandalus eous Makarov, 1935, P. goniurus Stimpson, 1860, P. latirostris Rathbun, 1902, P. platyceros Brandt, 1851 1851 are sex changers (Butler, 1964(Butler, , 1980Komai, 1999;Bergström, 2000). Lastly, most species of Rhynchocinetes H. Milne Edwards, 1837 and Cinetorhynchus Holthuis, 1995(Rhynchocinetidae Ortmann, 1890 are gonochoric (Correa et al, 2000;Thiel et al, 2010;Bauer et al, 2014;Prakash et al, 2016), but recent studies have revealed that the congeneric R. uritai Kubo, 1942 is a strict protandric hermaphrodite (Bauer & Thiel, 2011;Osawa et al, 2015).…”

New records of marine ornamental shrimps (Decapoda: Stenopodidea and Caridea) from the Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, India

“…Therefore, detailed study on the taxonomy, reproductive biology and conservation of marine ornamental shrimps of the coral reef regions of peninsular India is much warranted. Recent studies have addressed the sexual and mating systems of a few species of ornamental shrimps from Andaman and Gulf of Mannar regions (Subramoniam 2013;Prakash 2014;Prakash et al 2016). Hence, future studies on these caridean shrimps are necessary to understand the diverse life histories and adaptations and provide increased insight into the social interactions with other coral reefdwelling organisms.…”

“…This may be related to the difficulties in working on the fragile reef system and the methodology required to leave the reefs as undisturbed as possible. In recent times, the coral reef-dwelling caridean shrimps of Indian waters are receiving greater attention by researchers in order to understand the taxonomy, biology, and aquaculture aspects (Table 1) (Prakash et al 2011;Radhakrishnan et al 2012;Ajith Kumar 2013a, 2013b;Prakash et al 2015;Ajith Kumar et al 2015;Prakash et al 2016;Baby et al 2016). However, the latest checklist of shrimps of the Indian coast (Samuel et al 2016) omitted many species that are recorded in the literature.…”