Abstract
Factors concerning sexual discrimination and related sensory receptors were investigated on the hermit crabPagurus geminus. In the breeding season, male crabs of this species were observed to hold receptive females but to reject males. By using this behavior, it was examined whether males on which some operation on the sensory receptors was performed could discriminate between presented male of female crabs. Test males could not discriminate sexes of the presented crabs only when antennules were removed bilaterally. On the other hand, intact test males reacted positively to an empty shell from which “female water” exuded after passing through the chamber containing females. Thus, the factor by which the hermit crab discriminates sexes was indicated to be a water-borne chemical and that the sensory receptor related to sex-discrimination appeared to exist on the antennules. Discussions are made with respect to predicted substances taking part in sexual discrimination of this hermit crab.
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Imafuku, M. Sexual discrimination in the hermit crabPagurus geminus . J. Ethol. 4, 39–47 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02348251
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02348251