Abstract
Geotactic responses of male freshwater field crab,Oziotelphusa senex senex have been studied with reference to salinity adaptation. The crabs exhibited a stereotyped walking behaviour. The pairsL 2 R 3,L 3 R 2,L 4 R 1 andL 1 P 4 comprising left and right walking legs were used for the movement in reciprocating fashion. The weight of the crab influenced the orientation angle significantly. Blinding of the eyes did not affect the orientation. Irrespective of the inclination angle, the salinity adaptation reduced the walking rates. All these results have been discussed in terms of the greater scope and potential for escape, available in salinity adapted individuals.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander R M and Goldspink G 1977Mechanism and energetics of animal locomotion (London: Chaman and Hall) p 197
Barnes W J P 1975 Leg co-ordination during walking in the crabUca pugnax;J. Comp. Physiol. 96 237–256
Bowerman R F 1975a The control of walking in scorpion I Leg movements during walking;J Comp. Physiol. 100 183–196
Bowerman R F 1975b The control of walking in scorpion II Coordination modification as a sequence of appendage ablation;J. Camp. Physiol. 100 197–200
Cott H B 1929 Observations on the natural history of racing crabOcypode ceratophthalma Beira;Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1929 pp 755–765
Crozier W J and Federighi H 1925 Locomotion ofLimax II vertical ascension with added loads;J. Gen. Physiol. 7 415–420
Evoy W H and Fourtner C R 1973 Nervous control of walking in the crabCardiosoma gaunhumi III Proprioceptive influences on intra-intersegmental coordination;J. comp: Physiol. 83 303–318
Florkin M 1960 Ecology and metabolism; inPhysiology of Crustacea ed. M Florkin (New York: Academic Press) p 395
Hofeman D R and Hubbard J I 1966 On the rapid running of ghost crabOcypode ceratophthalma;J. Exp. Zool. 170 25–32
Hanks J E 1952 The effect of changes in water temperature and salinity on feeding habits of boring snailsPolinices heros andPolinices duplicata;Rep. Invest. Shellfish Mass. 5 33–37
Kinne O 1958 inPhysiological adaptation ed. C L Prosser (Washington: American Physiol. Soc.) p 92
Kinne 1964a Non-genetic adaptation to temperature and salinity;Helgolander Wiss. Merresunters. 9 433–458
Kinne O 1964b The effects of temperature and salinity on marine and brakish water animals II Salinity and temperature combinations;Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev. 2 281–339
Kinne O 1966 Physiological aspects of animal life in estuaries with special reference to salinity;Neth. J. Sea Res. 3 222–224
Kinne O 1971
Kine O 1971 Salinity; inMarine Ecology ed. O. Kinne (London: John Willey & Sons) p 821–996
Koepcke H W and Koepcke M 1953 Contribution al concimiento ele la forma de vida de ocypode gaudichaudis;Rev. Cient. 55 157–202
Krishnamurthy R V, Srihari K and Rahman H 1976 Salinity effect on the food preference of the fresh-water field crabOziotelphusa senex senex fabricus 1798;Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. B84 128–136
Latz M T and Forward R B Jr 1977 Effect of salinity upon phototaxis and geotaxis in larval crustaceans;Biol. Bull. 153 163–179
Lyman J and Flemming R H 1942 Composition of sea-water;J. Mar. Res. 3 134–146
Manzi J J 1970 Combined effect of salinity and temperature on feeding reproductive and survival ofEupleura caudata (SAY) andUrosalpinx cinera (SAY);Biol. Bull. 138 35–45
Ramakrishna T and Rao K P 1970 Non-specific sensory output from the eyes of scorpionHeterometrus falvipus;Indian Exp. Biol. 8 337–338
Ramamurthi R 1965 Metabolic response to osmotic stress in some fresh-water poikilotherms;Curr. Sci. 34 351–352
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Subrahmanyam, M.V.a., Krishnamoorthy, R.V. Geotactic responses of the field crabOziotelphusa senex senex in relation to salinity adaptation. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 88, 377–383 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179117
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179117