Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 April 2001
The swimming and swarming behaviour of Tritodynamia horvathi (Brachyura: Pinnotheridae) has been considered to be a seasonal activity related to summer mating. However, little information has been available regarding other seasons of the year as the crabs have not been observed at the sea surface in the cool months from October until May. This is the first report of swimming behaviour observed during this low temperature season. The swimming individuals were observed in March 1991 in Yatsushiro Sound, Japan. Tritodynamia horvathi were observed swimming at a depth of 15 m, using their maxillipeds to feed. The crabs also swam in the aquarium and caught Artemia nauplii in the same manner. These findings suggest that their swimming behaviour is not a seasonal mating activity as previously believed, but a habitual behaviour associated with feeding.