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

ABSTRACT: 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

SUBMITTER: Rozaimi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10078446 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature