Terrestrial adaptations in the Anomura (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Greenaway, Peter

doi:10.24199/j.mmv.2003.60.3

Cited by 117 publications

(133 citation statements)

References 98 publications

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“…Terrestrial hermit crabs (Coenobita sp.) commonly feed on animal faeces and may utilise the β-1,3-glucanase present within the digestive fluid as an immune enzyme to inactivate potentially pathogenic micro-organisms (Greenaway, 2003).…”

Section: Immune Proteinmentioning

confidence: 99%

A glycosyl hydrolase family 16 gene is responsible for the endogenous production of β-1,3-glucanases within decapod crustaceans

Linton

Cameron

Gray

et al. 2015

Gene

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To identify the gene responsible for the production of a β-1,3-glucanase (laminarinase) within crustacea, a glycosyl hydrolase family 16 (GHF16) gene was sequenced from the midgut glands of the gecarcinid land crab, Gecarcoidea natalis and the freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor. An open reading frame of 1098 bp for G. natalis and 1095 bp for C. destructor was sequenced from cDNA. For G. natalis and C. destructor respectively, this encoded putative proteins of 365 and 364 amino acids with molecular masses of 41.4 and 41.5 kDa. mRNA for an identical GHF16 protein was also expressed in the haemolymph of C. destructor. These putative proteins contained binding and catalytic domains that are characteristic of a β-1,3-glucanase from glycosyl hydrolase family 16. The amino acid sequences of two short 8-9 amino acid residue peptides from a previously purified β-1,3-glucanase from G. natalis matched exactly that of the putative protein sequence. This plus the molecular masses of the putative proteins matching that of the purified proteins strongly suggests that the sequences obtained encode for a catalytically active β-1,3-glucanase. A glycosyl hydrolase family 16 cDNA was also partially sequenced from the midgut glands of other amphibious (Mictyris platycheles and Paragrapsus laevis) and terrestrial decapod species (Coenobita rugosus, Coenobita perlatus, Coenobita brevimanus and Birgus latro) to confirm that the gene is widely expressed within this group. There are three possible hypothesised functions and thus evolutionary routes for the β-1,3-glucanase: 1) a digestive enzyme which hydrolyses β-1,3-glucans, 2) an enzyme which cleaves β-1,3-glycosidic bonds within cell walls to release cell contents or 3) an immune protein which can hydrolyse the cell walls of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms.

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Section: Immune Proteinmentioning

confidence: 99%

A glycosyl hydrolase family 16 gene is responsible for the endogenous production of β-1,3-glucanases within decapod crustaceans

Linton

Cameron

Gray

et al. 2015

Gene

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“…The water reserve that these crabs are able to carry with them has a multipurpose function: to compensate for dehydration, to keep the gills and abdomen surface sufficiently wet to allow gas exchanges, to reduce temperature through evaporation and to facilitate osmoregulation (De Wilde 1973;McMahon & Burggren 1979;Greenaway 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Water uptake not only has to counterbalance water loss due to metabolic processes similar to other terrestrial decapods (respiration, transpiration, excretion and faeces production), but also has to refurnish the water supply permanently kept within the shell, which is probably used to breathe, via abdominal vascularization and a thin abdominal cuticle (Farrelly & Greenaway 2001;Greenaway 2003;Innocenti et al 2004), as well as for local ammonia excretion as deduced from pH variations in the shell water (C. Becchi, personal observation).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water uptake in terrestrial hermit crabs: a morpho-functional analysis

Becchi

Innocenti

Vannini

2014

Italian Journal of Zoology

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Coenobita hermit crabs succeeded in their adaptation to land thanks to their shell and to the possibility of carrying water within it. Such a water reserve may play several roles: to compensate for dehydration, to keep the gills and abdomen surface sufficiently wet to allow gas exchange, to reduce temperature through evaporation and to facilitate osmoregulation. The mechanism through which water is absorbed and then imbibed or stored within the shell was studied using transparent shells and dyes. We were able to show that there are two pathways involving different organs. Drinking relies on setae on the 3rd maxillipeds while shell refilling involves the setae of both claws, as well as setae of the 3rd maxillipeds, and inverted scaphognatite beating activity. Shell refilling and drinking are alternated and both are interrupted by grooming activity. Thus, refilling the entire shell takes a variable period of time. The absorbing setae of both the maxilliped and the claw show a particular twisted shape, strongly resembling in both structure and density the absorbing setae at the base of the 3rd and 4th walking legs of the Ocypodidae.

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“…The strong correlations between shell internal volume and hermit characteristics possibly means that internal volume is crucial for C. violascens in providing more space that may allow hermits to grow rapidly or retain more fertilized eggs during reproduction (Osorno et al, 1998). Moreover, spacious internal volume of inhabited shells provides more capacity for storing water inside to maintain body moisture that is very important for life on land (Wilde, 1973;Greenaway, 2003). Additionally, the strong relationship between Shell occupation by Coenobita violascens Nauplius, 26: e2018004 shell aperture width and hermit characters possibly indicates that C. violascens can use the major chela and walking legs to effectively seal the aperture firmly when retreating into the shell, which provides more protection from desiccation and against predators (Ball, 1972;Abrams, 1978;Sanvicente-Anorve and Hermoso-Salazar, 2011).…”

Section: Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shell occupation by the land hermit crab Coenobita violascens (Anomura, Coenobitidae) from Phuket Island, Thailand

Bundhitwongrut

2018

Nauplius

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Terrestrial adaptations in the Anomura (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Cited by 117 publications

References 98 publications

A glycosyl hydrolase family 16 gene is responsible for the endogenous production of β-1,3-glucanases within decapod crustaceans

A glycosyl hydrolase family 16 gene is responsible for the endogenous production of β-1,3-glucanases within decapod crustaceans

Water uptake in terrestrial hermit crabs: a morpho-functional analysis

Shell occupation by the land hermit crab Coenobita violascens (Anomura, Coenobitidae) from Phuket Island, Thailand

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