Abstract
In crustaceans, molting is the process of shedding old exoskeleton and is required for the somatic growth of new exoskeleton for its growth. The molting processes in crustaceans vary from one species to other and also vary with the environmental conditions. In the present study the molt cycle of freshwater crab Oziothelphusa senex senex was studied. The size of crabs selected for the study is 30 ± 2 g. The natural molt cycle is consisting of intermolt (C1, C2, C3 and C4), premolt (D1, D2, D3 and D4), ecdysis (E) and post molt (A1, A2, B1 and B2) stages were measured and the percentage of each stage in the molt cycle was calculated. The biggest stage in the O. senex senex molt cycle is intermolt stage (90.0%) and shortest one is ecdysis (0.01%). Induced molt cycle was studied by eyestalk extirpation (ESX) and observed that 60.71% of male crabs and 52.0% female crabs were molted after 28th day of extirpation suggesting the role of eyestalk principle in regulating the molting process.
Highlights
Arthropods, encased in protective cuticles have solved the problem of size increase by a discontinuous growth pattern, the molting cycle
Molting is one of the most important physiological processes occurring during the arthropod life cycle and is controlled by moltinhibiting hormone (MIH) and molting hormone, ecdysone [1,2,3]
No clear demarcation of the molt stages of natural molt cycle has been noted in the crab O. senex senex and the present study is aimed to focus on the measurement of each and every sub-stage of natural molt cycle along with role of eyestalk on molting in crab Oziothelphusa senex senex
Summary
Arthropods, encased in protective cuticles have solved the problem of size increase by a discontinuous growth pattern, the molting cycle. The growth, weight gain takes place during the molt itself, when the animal takes water into the body and increases in size, weight and volume. Mortality increases because it removes four ganglia from each eyestalk, a considerable portion of central nervous system thereby induces hormonal imbalance and stress [10]. Besides this decreased hemolymph osmolarity by ESX has been reported in crustaceans [11,12] Along with growth unilateral ESX shortens molt interval and stimulate gonad maturation is evidenced in several crustaceans like Metapenaeus dobsoni [12] Astacus leptodactylus [13] scylla serrata [8]. No clear demarcation of the molt stages of natural molt cycle has been noted in the crab O. senex senex and the present study is aimed to focus on the measurement of each and every sub-stage of natural molt cycle along with role of eyestalk on molting in crab Oziothelphusa senex senex
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