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Feeding activity of Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 and Callinectes danae Smith, 1869 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae) in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil

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Abstract

The feeding activity along the day cycle and the time consumed for extracellular digestion were evaluated in the portunids C. ornatus and C. danae. Swimming crabs were obtained from trawling in Ubatuba bay, São Paulo, Brazil, during both the rainy and dry seasons. In each season, daily scheduled samples were taken at dawn (±6 h), noon (±12 h), dusk (±18 h) and midnight (±24 h). All individuals were dissected and the degree of stomach replenishment was recorded. In order to estimate the time elapsed for extracellular digestion, crabs were fed, and groups were dissected at 30 min intervals to check the conditions of their stomachs. In general, both species show a higher feeding activity during periods of lower light intensity, as evidenced by an increased percentage of full stomachs in dusk and midnight samples. The obtained results support higher feeding activity at night in these species and indicate short time for extracellular digestion, not exceeding 8 h. Nevertheless, full stomachs were recorded in all sampling schedules. In this case, it should be considered that elimination of certain food items such as fish bones, mollusk shells and carapace fragments of crustaceans could take more time than other items. Additionally, some crab species could require a cycle of cell replacement in the midgut gland epithelium until they can take their next meal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Câmpus do Litoral Paulista, Praça Infante D. Henrique s/n, UNESP, São Vicente, SP, 11330-205, Brazil

    Alvaro Luiz Diogo Reigada

  2. NEBECC (Group of Studies on Crustacean Biology, Ecology and Culture) Depto. de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências - UNESP, 18618-000, Botucatu (SP), Brazil

    Alvaro Luiz Diogo Reigada

  3. NEBECC (Group of Studies on Crustacean Biology, Ecology and Culture) Depto. de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências - UNESP, 18618-000, Botucatu (SP), Brazil

    Maria Lucia Negreiros-Fransozo

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  1. Alvaro Luiz Diogo Reigada
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  2. Maria Lucia Negreiros-Fransozo
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Diogo Reigada, A.L., Negreiros-Fransozo, M.L. Feeding activity of Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 and Callinectes danae Smith, 1869 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae) in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil. Hydrobiologia 449, 249–252 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017563119813

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