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EXTERNAL FEATURES OF AN INTERSEX FIDDLER CRAB, UCA PUGILATOR (BOSC, 1802) (DECAPODA, BRACHYURA)

2000; Brill; Volume: 73; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1163/156854000504507

1568-5403

Milton Fingerman, Enmin Zou,

Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth

The external features of an intersex fiddler crab, Uca pugilator , are described. Both male- and female-type sexual characteristics occur on the specimen. This sexually abnormal individual exhibits reduced bilateral asymmetry in its chelipeds. Its abdomen is intermediate between those of a typical male and a typical female. The first and second pairs of pleopods closely resemble those found in a typical male. One female-type pleopod occurs on the right side of the third abdominal segment, while on the fifth segment of the abdomen there exist two female-type pleopods, one on each side. No male genital apertures were found, but two female gonopores occur, one on each side of the midline of the thoracic segment that bears the third pair of walking legs. Possible causes for the sexual aberrations found in this specimen are discussed. Les caracteres externes d’un crabe violoniste, Uca pugilator , intersexue sont decrits. Les caracteres sexuels mâles et femelles sont presents a la fois sur le specimen. Cet individu sexuellement anormal montre une asymetrie bilaterale reduite des chelipedes. L’abdomen est intermediaire entre ceux d’un mâle et d’une femelle typiques. Les premieres et secondes paires de pleopodes sont celles d’un mâle typique. Un pleopode de type femelle est present sur le cote droit du troisieme segment abdominal, alors que, sur le cinquieme segment il en existe deux de type femelle, un sur chaque cote. Aucun orifice genital mâle n’a ete observe, mais il y avait deux gonopores femelles, de part et d’autre de la ligne mediane du segment thoracique portant la troisieme paire de pattes ambulatoires. Les causes possibles de ces aberrations sexuelles sont discutees.