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Shell use: an adaptation for emigration from the sea by the coconut crab
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 26, 1968
Summary
Coconut crabs (Birgus latro) begin life in the sea and transition to land as glaucothoes. These young crabs exhibit ancestral hermit crab behavior, using empty shells for protection during their vulnerable early development.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Crustacean Research
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The coconut crab, Birgus latro, undergoes a significant life-history transition from marine to terrestrial environments.
- The postlarval glaucothoe stage is a critical period for juvenile coconut crabs.
- Understanding this stage is key to comprehending the species' early ecology and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavior of Birgus latro glaucothoes during their emigration from the sea.
- To document the use of gastropod shells by glaucothoes for protection.
- To explore the ancestral behaviors retained by coconut crabs.
Main Methods:
- Field observations of glaucothoe behavior.
- Analysis of glaucothoe microhabitat selection.
- Behavioral assays examining shell preference and use.
Main Results:
- Glaucothoes were observed emigrating from the sea.
- A significant proportion of glaucothoes were found inhabiting empty gastropod shells.
- This shell-dwelling behavior mirrors that of ancestral hermit crabs.
Conclusions:
- The glaucothoe stage is characterized by a reliance on empty gastropod shells for protection.
- Birgus latro retains ancestral hermit crab behaviors, including shell utilization, during its early terrestrial life.
- Shell availability and selection are crucial factors for the survival of postlarval coconut crabs.
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