G. Innocenti et al., NOTES ON THE BEHAVIOR OF THE PORTUNID CRAB CHARYBDIS-LONGICOLLIS LEENE PARASITIZED BY THE RHIZOCEPHALAN HETEROSACCUS-DOLLFUSI BOSCHMA, Journal of Natural History, 32(10-11), 1998, pp. 1577-1585
A significant portion of the population of Charybdis longicollis (Deca
poda: Portunidae) along the Mediterranean coast of Israel is parasitiz
ed by the rhizocephalan Heterosaccus dollfusi. The behaviour of the pa
rasitized crabs, in different stages of infection, is examined and com
pared with the behaviour of nonparasitized crabs. Locomotion, rest, bo
dy-, egg- and parasite-grooming, digging and burying, courtship and ma
ting are described qualitatively and analysed quantitatively under sta
ndardized conditions. Behaviour patterns of parasitized crabs lacking
externae, either immature or scarred, were similar to those of nonpara
sitized crabs. The presence of externae was observed to modify digging
and to inhibit burying behaviour. The presence of externae induces an
imitation of egg-grooming behaviour pattern in both males and females
. Externae-bearing crabs engaged in parasite-grooming more intensely t
han ovigerous crabs in egg-grooming.