Macropodia rostrata

Last updated

Macropodia rostrata
Macropodia rostrata.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Suborder: Pleocyemata
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Inachidae
Genus: Macropodia
Species:
M. rostrata
Binomial name
Macropodia rostrata
(Linnaeus, 1761)
Synonyms
  • Cancer rostrataLinnaeus, 1761
  • Cancer rostratusLinnaeus 1761 (basionym)
  • Stenorhynchus rostratus(Linnaeus, 1761)
  • Stenorhynchus rostratus var. spinulosumMiers, 1881

Macropodia rostrata, common names, the common spider crab, long-legged spider crab, long-legged crab, is a species of marine crab in the family Inachidae. [1] The Macropodia Rostrata visually mimics many other types of small crabs with the exception of its long legs. By attaching algae to their thin legs, they can be confused with the stem of seaweed. [2] This is both a defense mechanism and a predatory advantage, as unsuspecting fish will hide in seaweed beds from nearby predators. This behavior can be absent among larger crabs, and those that live at great depths like giant Japanese spider crabs. [3]

Contents

Description

Macropodia rostrata has a hairy, or fuzzy appearance due to algae it applies to itself for camouflage. [4] Both the carapace and pereiopods of this species are greyish to yellowish or reddish-brown in colour, with some specimens showing white markings. The carapace grows to a maximum length of 16 (28) mm, with the anterior part is narrowing, giving it a pear shape. [4] The length of the carapace is measuredon the median line, from the anterior to the posterior margin. [2] The surface of the carapace surface contains numerous hook-setae. From a dorsal view, the eye-stalks are completely visible. [5] Macropodia rostrata use their eyes as well as other sensory organs to locate and catch prey. Spider crabs are omnivorous and most are underwater scavengers, and will eat anything from algae to mollusks and small fish. [2] Decorator crabs such as the Macropodia rostrata will use the algae covering their limbs as camouflage and an emergency food source. [3]

Distribution and ecology

Macropodia rostrata is found along the coasts of Europe and western Africa, from 65° N in Norway to South Africa, including the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the Black Sea. Unlike giant Japanese Spider crabs, you will not find Macropodia rostrata on the bottom of the ocean. It occurs chiefly at depths of 0–50 metres (0–164 ft), although it can occasionally be found at up to 150 m (490 ft). [6] It is commonly found in muddy sand, and on kelp. [7] Macropodia rostrata can apply algae to its body to camouflage itself. It is easily preyed upon as it is slow moving. [7] When startled, spider crabs will wave their pincers over their heads, which is their main defense against predators such as gulls and shorebirds. [2] Although not common, large fish and sharks will prey on spider crabs, but are often dissuaded due to their hard shells.

Reproduction

Although it cannot be genetically determined what dictates minimum and maximum post-puberty sizes of Macropodia rostrata, scientists believe it is the result of varied ecological histories. Interestingly, it was expected that the males of the species Macropodia rostrata would show modification of the gential papillae and the first intromittent organs coinciding with the molt of puberty, however it was observed that the size of carapace length and gential papillae did not correlate. [8] For male Macropodia rostrata, the largest pre-puberty carapace lengths are 18mm, while the mean is generally 16.4mm. [8] Male Macropodia rostrata can reach a maximum post-puberty carapace length of 23mm. Females of the same species are generally smaller, and reach a maximum post puberty carapace length of 20mm. The largest pre-puberty length a female can reach is about 14 mm, while the average length after puberty is 14.4mm. As macropodia mature sexually, several interesting physiological changes occur. In males sexual maturity is indicated by the swelling and color change of their sperm ducts. [8] This is caused by the production of sperm that is enclosed within spermatophores and gives the ducts a white appearance. In females of the species, change in shape and diameter of ovaries indicates sexual maturity. For both males and females of the species, the “moult of puberty” is required to reproduce, as females do not ovulate before then and males do not produce sperm. Macropodia rostrata can then copulate at any time after the “moult of puberty”. After copulation, sperm are stored in a spermathecae and the females can use this for several ovulations. Macropodia rostrata produce eggs around the size of 0.6mm, and several factors influence how many they can produce. [8] Macropodia rostrata are continuous breeders, and do not have mating seasons.

Taxonomy

M. rostrata was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1761 work Fauna Suecica , under the name Cancer rostratus. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese spider crab</span> Species of crab

The Japanese spider crab is a species of marine crab and is the biggest one that lives in the waters around Japan. It has the largest known leg-span of any arthropod around 3.7 meters. The Japanese name for this species is taka-ashi-gani,, literally translating to “tall legs crab”. It goes through three main larval stages along with a prezoeal stage to grow to its great size.

<i>Stenorhynchus seticornis</i> Species of crab

Stenorhynchus seticornis, the yellowline arrow crab or simply arrow crab, is a species of marine crab.

<i>Misumena vatia</i> Species of spider

Misumena vatia is a species of crab spider with a holarctic distribution. In North America, it is called the goldenrod crab spider or flower (crab) spider, as it is commonly found hunting in goldenrod sprays and milkweed plants. They are called crab spiders because of their unique ability to walk sideways as well as forwards and backwards. Both males and females of this species progress through several molts before reaching their adult sizes, though females must molt more to reach their larger size. Females can grow up to 10 mm (0.39 in) while males are quite small, reaching 5 mm (0.20 in) at most. Misumena vatia are usually yellow or white or a pattern of these two colors. They may also present with pale green or pink instead of yellow, again, in a pattern with white. They have the ability to change between these colors based on their surroundings through the molting process. They have a complex visual system, with eight eyes, that they rely on for prey capture and for their color-changing abilities. Sometimes, if Misumena vatia consumes colored prey, the spider itself will take on that color.

<i>Cyclograpsus lavauxi</i> Species of crab

The Smooth Shore Crab is a marine large-eyed crab of the family Grapsidae, found in New Zealand and the Juan Fernández Islands of Chile.

<i>Notomithrax ursus</i> Species of crab

Notomithrax ursus, known as the hairy seaweed crab, is a spider crab of the family Majidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latreilliidae</span> Family of crabs

Latreilliidae is a small family of crabs. They are relatively small, long-legged crabs found on soft bottoms at depths of up 700 metres (2,300 ft) in mostly tropical and subtemperate waters around the world. Their carapace is very small and doesn’t cover the bases of their legs, which protrude from the cephalothorax in a spider-like manner. The family and its type genus are named after Pierre André Latreille. The oldest known fossils from the Latreillidae have been dated to the middle of the Cretaceous period. It comprises seven extant species.

<i>Vermicularia spirata</i> Species of gastropod

Vermicularia spirata, common name the West Indian worm-shell or the West Indian wormsnail, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turritellidae. Juveniles can move around, but larger individuals become sessile.

<i>Macropodia falcifera</i> Species of marine crab in the family Inachidae from South Africa

Macropodia falcifera, the Cape long-legged spider crab, is a species of marine crab found around the South African coast. It is a member of the family Inachidae.

<i>Guinotellus</i> Genus of crabs

Guinotellus melvillensis is a species of crabs in the family Xanthidae, the only species in the genus Guinotellus. It is a benthic crab with an ovate carapace within the subfamily Euxanthinae.

<i>Oregonia gracilis</i> Species of crab

Oregonia gracilis, commonly known as the graceful decorator crab, is a species of crab belonging to the family Oregoniidae. Like other decorator crabs it habitually attaches other organisms to its back. The sessile organisms are attached to hooked setae that act as a sort of velcro attachment. This decoration provides visual and chemical camouflage thus reducing predation risk. Pacific halibut are a major predator of O. gracilis. Other predators include octopus and sea otters. The main food source of O. gracilis is floating kelp and algae that they capture utilizing a waiting strategy in order to maintain cryptosis.

<i>Dyspanopeus sayi</i> Species of crab

Dyspanopeus sayi is a species of mud crab that is native to the Atlantic coast of North America. It has also become established outside its native range, living in Swansea Docks since 1960, the Mediterranean Sea since the 1970s, the North Sea since 2007 and the Black Sea since 2010. It can reach a carapace width of 20 mm (0.8 in), and has black tips to its unequal claws. It feeds on bivalves and barnacles, and is in turn eaten by predators including the Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Eggs are produced from spring to autumn, the offspring reach sexual maturity the following summer, and individuals can live for up to two years. The closest relative of D. sayi is D. texanus, which lives in the Gulf of Mexico; the two species differ in subtle features of the genitalia and the last pair of walking legs.

<i>Libinia dubia</i> Species of crab

Libinia dubia, the longnose spider crab, is a species of crab in the family Epialtidae. It is found in shallow waters on the eastern coast of North America.

<i>Loxorhynchus grandis</i> Species of crab

Loxorhynchus grandis, commonly known as the sheep crab or spider crab, is a species of crab in the family Epialtidae. It is the largest crab found on the California coast. The species was first described to science by William Stimpson in 1857. The type specimen was collected on the coast of California, near San Francisco. Fossils from the late Miocene epoch indicate that this species is at least 11.63 to 5.333 million years old.

Emerita rathbunae is a species of "mole crabs" or "sand crabs" in the genus Emerita that lives along the tropical Pacific coasts of the Americas.

Calcinus verrillii, commonly known as Verrill's hermit crab, is a species of hermit crab in the genus Calcinus which is endemic to Bermuda. It was first described by the American zoologist Mary J. Rathbun and named in honour of the American zoologist Addison Emery Verrill, who spent much time with his students studying the geology and marine fauna of Bermuda.

Macropodia tenuirostris, also known as the slender spider crab, is a species of marine crab in the family Inachidae.

Eurynome aspera, the strawberry crab, is a species of crab in the family Majidae.It is small (1–2 cm) and sometimes a vague strawberry colour. The carapace and legs are often encrusted with algae and mud which act as camouflage.

<i>Latreillia elegans</i> Species of crustacean

Latreillia elegans is a species of crab belonging to the family Latreilliidae. This family of crabs is identified by their appearance as small, long-legged crabs. The species belongs to the genus Latreillia which has only five identified species: L. elegans, L. metanesa, L. williamsi, L.valida, and L. pennifera. It was previously thought that L.elegans and L.mannengi were two separate species, but it has since been revealed that the two species are synonymous. All the thought to be differences between L.elegans and L.mannengi were in actuality overlaps. The L. mannengi is simply referring to the close relative to the species of L. elegans found in the western Atlantic.

<i>Libinia spinosa</i> Species of crustacean

Libinia spinosa is a majoid crab found in mud and sand bottoms of the Southwestern Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is a generalist feeder on organisms such as algae, sponges, cnidarians, mollusks, polychaetes, crustaceans, and small fish. It commonly engages in a symbiotic relationship with the medusa Lychnorhiza lucerna.

References

  1. Peter Davie (2012). "Macropodia rostrata". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Rathbun, Mary (1860). "The Spider Crabs of America". Smithsonian Institution. ISBN   9780598352101 via United States National Museum.
  3. 1 2 Wicksten, Mary (1993). "A Review and a Model of Decorating Behavior in Spider Crabs". Crustaceana. 64: 314–325. doi:10.1163/156854093X00667.
  4. 1 2 "Long Legged Spider Crab - Macropodia rostrata". Seawater.no. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  5. "Marine Species Identification Portal : Macropodia rostrata". Species-identification.org. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  6. Jacques Forest (1978). "Le genre Macropodia Leach dans les eaux atlantiques européennes (Crustacea Brachyura Majidae)" (PDF). Cahiers de Biologie Marine . 19: 323–342.
  7. 1 2 "British Marine Life: Long-legged Spider Crab - Macropodia rostrata". Oceaneyephoto.com. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Hartnoll, R. G. (1965). "The Biology of Spider Crabs: A Comparison of British and Jamaican Species". Crustaceana. 9 (1): 1–16. doi:10.1163/156854065X00127. JSTOR   20102659.
  9. Mary J. Rathbun (1900). "The decapod crustaceans of West Africa". Proceedings of the United States National Museum . 22 (1199): 271–316. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.22-1199.271.