sexual shape dimorphism of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) (Decapoda, Ucididae) accessed through geometric morphometric.
Sexual dimorphism is often observed in Crustaceans. Considering the great diversity of this subphylum, only few reports are found in the literature and most are mainly based on traditional morphometry. The present study uses geometric morphometrics analysis to identify sexual dimorphism by shape variation in the overexploited semiterrestrial crab Ucides cordatus, species with great social and economic importance in South America. Comparative morphology analyses were performed by using the outer face of the propodus of major cheliped, dorsal and anterior region of carapace shape. Significant differences in shape between sexes were detected in these body areas. The causes of dimorphism presented in this species are not clear but, analogous to other possibly associated species, it may be inferred that the causes are with adaptations to body ability of reproductive potential (females), and of reproductive behaviour and agonistics encounters (males). Additional analyses on courtship displays and other reproductive aspects should provide better comprehension of functionality of this morphological differentiation.
Grupo de Estudos em Ecologia e Fisiologia de Animais Aquáticos (GEEFAA), Departamento de Biologia, Ecologia e Zoologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova, Caixa Postal 1524, 59078-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
C E R D
CE
Alencar
Federal Institute of Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte, 59500-000 Macau, RN, Brazil.
P A
PA
Lima-Filho
Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59078-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
W F
WF
Molina
Grupo de Estudos em Ecologia e Fisiologia de Animais Aquáticos (GEEFAA), Departamento de Biologia, Ecologia e Zoologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova, Caixa Postal 1524, 59078-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
F A M
FA
Freire
D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D003445:Crustacea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D012727:Sex Characteristics