Allometry and sexual dimorphism in the chela shape in the squat lobster Munida rugosa

Abstract

AB Aquatic Biology Contact the journal Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AB 8:179-187 (2010) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00233 Allometry and sexual dimorphism in the chela shape in the squat lobster Munida rugosa Thomas Claverie1,2,*, I. Philip Smith1 1University Marine Biological Station Millport, Isle of Cumbrae KA28 0EG, UK 2Present address: Biology Department, 332 Morrill Science Center South, 611 North Pleasant Street, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA *Email: tclaverie@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Sexual selection generally promotes the development of ornaments or weapons that improve an individual’s chance of mating. The squat lobster Munida rugosa exhibits a range of variation in chela (claw) morphology, with some individuals having a particular arched chela morphology, apparently specialized as a weapon. Geometric morphometric techniques were used to compare chela morphology across a wide size range and between sexes. The most fully developed arched morphology only occurred in large males, although not all large males possessed an arched claw, while smaller males retained straight, slender claws. Some large females exhibited a reduced version of the arched morphology. The pattern of occurrence of the arched morphology suggests that it is, or has been, subject to sexual selection through male–male competition for mates. KEY WORDS: Munida rugosa · Secondary sexual dimorphism · Chela shape · Sexual selection · Weapon · Geometric morphometric Full text in pdf format PreviousCite this article as: Claverie T, Smith IP (2010) Allometry and sexual dimorphism in the chela shape in the squat lobster Munida rugosa. Aquat Biol 8:179-187. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00233 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AB Vol. 8, No. 2. Online publication date: March 09, 2010 Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790 Copyright © 2010 Inter-Research.