Quantitative analysis of carapace pattern polymorphism in the grapsid crab Hemigrapsus penicillatus (De Haan, 1835) (Decapoda, Varunidae)
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Abstract
Many shore crabs exhibit juvenile colour pattern polymorphism on their carapace, which helps avoid predation through camouflage. However, colour pattern polymorphism has been described only in a limited number of species, and its quantitative descriptions are rare. Here, we studied the Asian grapsid crab Hemigrapsus penicillatus to describe its polymorphic dichromatic carapace patterns. We specifically examined how dichromatic patterns and the degree of pattern polymorphism change as size increases and whether sexual/size differences exist in carapace patterns. Our results showed that H. penicillatus exhibits polymorphic forms in both the juvenile and adult stages. Additionally, compared with males, females were more likely to exhibit dichromatic carapace patterns and had a larger light-coloured area on their carapace. Estimation of the likelihood of the carapace being light or dark coloured suggested that certain areas on the carapace are less variable than other areas. We discuss potential adaptive explanations for our results.
Résumé
Beaucoup de crabes côtiers présentent un polymorphisme juvénile du patron de couleur qui aide à éviter la prédation grâce au camouflage. Cependant, le polymorphisme du patron de couleur a été décrit seulement chez un nombre limité d’espèces, et ses descriptions quantitatives sont rares. Ici, nous avons étudié le crabe Grapsidae asiatique Hemigrapsus penicillatus pour décrire les patrons polymorphiques bicolores de sa carapace. Nous avons examiné spécialement comment les patrons de couleur dichromatiques et le degré de polymorphisme du patron de couleur changent quand la taille augmente et si des différences sexe/taille apparaissent dans les patrons de la carapace. Nos résultats ont montré que H. penicillatus présentait des formes polymorphiques à la fois chez les juvéniles et chez les stades adultes. De plus, comparées aux mâles, les femelles présentaient plus souvent des patrons de carapace bicolores et avaient une plus grande zone de couleur claire sur leur carapace. L’estimation de la probabilité de la carapace d’être de couleur claire ou foncée suggère que certaines zones de la carapace sont moins variables que d’autres. Nous discutons des explications adaptatives potentielles de nos résultats.
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Quantitative analysis of carapace pattern polymorphism in the grapsid crab Hemigrapsus penicillatus (De Haan, 1835) (Decapoda, Varunidae)
In: CrustaceanaSearch for other papers by Yongsu Kim in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Sangryong Bae in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Changku Kang in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
Many shore crabs exhibit juvenile colour pattern polymorphism on their carapace, which helps avoid predation through camouflage. However, colour pattern polymorphism has been described only in a limited number of species, and its quantitative descriptions are rare. Here, we studied the Asian grapsid crab Hemigrapsus penicillatus to describe its polymorphic dichromatic carapace patterns. We specifically examined how dichromatic patterns and the degree of pattern polymorphism change as size increases and whether sexual/size differences exist in carapace patterns. Our results showed that H. penicillatus exhibits polymorphic forms in both the juvenile and adult stages. Additionally, compared with males, females were more likely to exhibit dichromatic carapace patterns and had a larger light-coloured area on their carapace. Estimation of the likelihood of the carapace being light or dark coloured suggested that certain areas on the carapace are less variable than other areas. We discuss potential adaptive explanations for our results.
| All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 575 | 49 | 11 |
| Full Text Views | 87 | 25 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 142 | 60 | 0 |