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Leg disposition in the brachyuran megalopa when swimming

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

D. Atkins
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Summary

Many brachyuran megalopae swim with the legs disposed in a curious manner. The chelipeds and first two pairs of walking legs are folded tightly beneath the body, while the two posterior pairs are wrapped over the dorsum, the third pair being stretched out anteriorly, the dactylus, according to its length, touching or being looped round the eye-stalk. It is suggested that this posture gives stream-lining to the megalopa and improves its swimming. The described arrangement has been observed in all but three of some twenty-five species occurring at Plymouth.

In the three exceptions, Corystes cassivelaunus, Thia polita and Pinnotheres pinnotheres (= veterum), all legs are carried folded beneath the body.

Reference is made to previous descriptions of the folding of the legs in the brachyuran megalopa.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 33 , Issue 3 , October 1954 , pp. 627 - 636
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1954

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References

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