Abstract
Temporary suspension of the receptivity of the male antennules confirmed these organs as the site of putative pheromone detection in the crab Carcinus maenas. Comparative analysis of male performance in individual components of sexual behaviour failed to identify any difference between male crabs with antennules restricted and others without, when individuals from each group were placed in contact with receptive females. However, even though pheromone perception by males was not a prerequisite for the initiation of sexual behaviour, in its absence the control of normal sequence and duration of pairing behaviour was disrupted.
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Communicated by J.P. Thorpe, Port Erin
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Bamber, S.D., Naylor, E. Mating behaviour of male Carcinus maenas in relation to a putative sex pheromone: behavioural changes in response to antennule restriction. Marine Biology 125, 483–488 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353261
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353261