Crabs are fascinating animals that grow and develop in unique ways. How do they mature from an egg to the creatures seen on beaches around the world? Readers explore the life cycle of a crab through accessible main text that presents basic biology facts in a fresh way. As readers discover essential information about each life cycle stage, they’re presented with vibrant, full-color photographs and helpful diagrams that introduce them to the physical differences between the stages. Fun fact boxes present additional information about crabs, and the colorful design keeps readers engaged as they learn about life science.
Crabs are fascinating animals that grow and develop in unique ways. How do they mature from an egg to the creatures seen on beaches around the world? Readers explore the life cycle of a crab through accessible main text that presents basic biology facts in a fresh way. As readers discover essential information about each life cycle stage, they’re presented with vibrant, full-color photographs and helpful diagrams that introduce them to the physical differences between the stages. Fun fact boxes present additional information about crabs, and the colorful design keeps readers engaged as they learn about life science.
Interest in land crabs has burgeoned as biologists have increasingly focused on the evolution of terrestriality. Before the publication of this volume in 1988, there had been no single comprehensive source of information to serve biologists interested in the diverse aspects of terrestrial decapod crustacean. Biology of the Land Crabs was the first synthesis of recent and long-established findings on brachyuran and anomuran crustaceans that have evolved varying degrees of adaptation for life on land. Chapters by leading researchers take a coordinated evolutionary and comparative approach to systematics and evolution, ecology, behaviour, reproduction, growth and molting, ion and water balance, respiration and circulation, and energetics and locomotion. Each discusses how terrestrial species have become adapted from ancestral freshwater or marine forms. With its extensive bibliography and comprehensive index, including the natural history of nearly eighty species of brachyuran and anomuran crabs, Biology of the Land Crabs will continue to be an invaluable reference for researchers and advanced students.
The world's nearly 7,000 species of crabs are immediately recognizable by their claws, sideways movement, stalked eyes, and thick outer shells. These common crustaceans are found internationally, thriving in various habitats from the edge of the sea to the depths of the ocean, in fresh water or on land. Despite having the same basic body type as decapod crustaceans-true crabs have heavy exoskeletons and ten limbs with front pincer claws-crabs come in an enormous variety of shapes and sizes, from the near microscopic to the giant Japanese spider crab. In Walking Sideways, Judith S. Weis provides an engaging and informative tour of the remarkable world of crabs, highlighting their unique biology and natural history. She introduces us to recently discovered crabs such as the Yeti crab found in deep sea vents, explains what scientists are learning about blue and hermit crabs commonly found at the shore, and gives us insight into the lifecycles of the king and Dungeness crabs typically seen only on dinner plates. Among the topics Weis covers are the evolution and classification of crabs, their habitats, unique adaptations to water and land, reproduction and development, behavior, ecology, and threats, including up-to-date research. Crabs are of special interest to biologists for their communication behaviors, sexual dimorphism, and use of chemical stimuli and touch receptors, and Weis explains the importance of new scientific discoveries. In addition to the traditional ten-legged crabs, the book also treats those that appear eight-legged, including hermit crabs, king crabs, and sand crabs. Sidebars address topics of special interest, such as the relationship of lobsters to crabs and medical uses of compounds derived from horseshoe crabs (which aren't really crabs). While Weis emphasizes conservation and the threats that crabs face, she also addresses the use of crabs as food (detailing how crabs are caught and cooked) and their commercial value from fisheries and aquaculture. She highlights other interactions between crabs and people, including keeping hermit crabs as pets or studying marine species in the laboratory and field. Reminding us of characters such as The Little Mermaid's Sebastian and Sherman Lagoon's Hawthorne, she also surveys the role of crabs in literature (for both children and adults), film, and television, as well in mythology and astrology. With illustrations that offer delightful visual evidence of crab diversity and their unique behaviors, Walking Sideways will appeal to anyone who has encountered these fascinating animals on the beach, at an aquarium, or in the kitchen.
Four modules explore topics in physical science, earth and space science, life science, and science and technology with hands-on activities designed to engage students in the processes of scientific inquiry and technological design. Modules within a developmental level may be taught in any sequence.
This book offers the first comprehensive review of parasitic Crustacea, which are among the most successful and diverse parasites. Starting with an introductory chapter, followed by an historic overview and topic-specific chapters, each presenting a different aspect of parasitic crustacean biology, it enables readers to gain a better understanding of how these parasites function and allows direct comparisons between the different parasitic crustacean groups. The authors also discuss, in depth, the adaptations and interactions that have made parasitic Crustacea as successful as they are today, covering topics ranging from the history of their discovery, their biodiversity, phylogeny, evolution and life strategies to their role as vectors, or hosts of other organisms, and their significance in ecological processes. Consisting of ten chapters from leading international experts in the field, this volume offers a one-stop resource for all researchers, lecturers, students and practitioners.
Mud crab culture has relied until recently on juvenile stock captured from the natural environment. This practice puts undue pressure on natural stocks and causes concern about the sustainability of mud crab aquaculture. This text documents research carried out to combat such problems.
This illustrated atlas describes 256 extant brachyuran crab species in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Identification keys are provided for 37 brachyuran families, 144 genera and 256 species on the basis of their main synapomorphies. Brief but precise descriptions highlighting the main characteristics are also provided for every family. The atlas displays features high-quality color photos, offering a hands-on guide and equipping readers to readily diagnose crab species in the region. Importantly, a line drawing of the first male gonopod, as well as its main diagnostic characteristics, are provided for all species. Further, every species is supplemented with synonymies that encompass the original descriptions, overall revision of the given taxa, monographs and all records from the northwestern Indian Ocean including the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. For each species, the book provides detailed local and global distribution maps, together with important ecological data including habitat preference. Further, it includes a general introduction to the brachyuran crabs with schematic drawings of their external morphology, as well as a comprehensive introduction to the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman as marine ecoregions (geography, hydrology, biology, and environmental condition). The book offers an indispensable guide for all professionals, researchers, and students interested in brachyuran crabs around the globe and particularly in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
This book brings together 20 scientists who have worked on all aspects of horseshoe crab biology to compile the first fully detailed, comprehensive view of Limulus polyphemus. An indispensable resource, the volume describes behavior, natural history, and ecology; anatomy, physiology, distribution, development, and life cycle.
