SAND DISPOSAL OF THE PAINTED GHOST CRAB OCYPODE-GAUDICHAUDII (DECAPODA, OCYPODIDAE) - A POSSIBLE ROLE IN COURTSHIP

In 1991/1992, we studied the sand disposal behavior of the painted gho st crabs Ocypode gaudichaudii on the Pacific coast of Panama. O. gaudi chaudii either kick, dump or tamp sand they excavate from their burrow s. Here we relate these three kinds of sand disposal to burrow structu re and distribution, as well as to crab size and sex. Our objective wa s to determine whether tamping may be a male courtship signal. Burrows whose owners tamped sand were on average longer, deeper, and higher o n the beach than were burrows whose owners kicked or dumped sand. Five burrow shapes were distinguished, with half-spiral and spiral shapes being most common among tamped burrows. All crabs excavated from tampe d burrows were males. Tamped burrows peaked in abundance around full a nd new moons. These observations, together with what is known about ma ting and breeding behavior of other ghost crabs, suggest that tamping may be involved in O. gaudichaudii courtship.