Results of this study have guided the selection of 5 permanent inventory sites on the Stikine River based on amphibian breeding activity and historical data availability: Mallard Slough,
Cheliped Bay, Twin Lakes, Twin Lakes Warm Springs, and Shakes Hot Springs.
Dorsal surfaces of carapace and
chelipeds beige (Fig.
uncinatus holding Crab either as a a lizard (Norops lemurinus) predator or in its right (major)
cheliped scavenger (Fig.
pelagicus, only 14 crabs (or 0.71%) displayed abnormalities either in carapace,
chelipeds, swimming leg, or abdomen.
Crabs of the genus Uca are a good example for this phenomenon, as males use their hypertrophied
cheliped during courtship [40].
Only crayfish in their intermolt stage, possessing all walking legs and both
chelipeds were used in these studies.
To evaluate the population genetic and morphological structures of this semiterrestrial crab, and to test the influence of the Central South Equatorial Current (CSEC) as a geographic barrier to gene flow, we here present 1) haplotype data from the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) mitochondrial gene, 2) data on shape variation of the carapace and
cheliped propodus, and 3) an evaluation of the correlation between the morphological and genetic distances from six populations along the Brazilian coast.
Female pleopods were checked for the presence of eggs and
cheliped handedness for each male was registered.
In this case, early maturity in brachyurans can be detected by changes in the growth proportions (relative or allometric) of structures associated with secondary sexual characteristics such as the
cheliped in males and the abdomen width in females (Hartnoll, 1974; Hartnoll, 1982; Pinheiro & Fransozo, 1998).
The following morphological characteristics were measured: the carapace width (CW), the height and length of the major
cheliped propodus (LPH and LPL), the width of the female abdomen at the base of the 4th somite (AW) and the length of the male gonopod (GL).
Cheliped basis with small inner dorsodistal process; carpus about twice as long as wide.