Observations on the reproductive behavior of the spiny king crab Paralithodes brevipes (Anomura: Lithodidae)

Abstract

The reproductive behavior of the spiny king crab, Paralithodes brevipes, was observed in the laboratory. Females always molted before mating and extruding eggs. Males performed pre-copulatory guarding behavior before and/or after its mate molted. When males guarded females, prior to the female molting, the average duration from the start of guarding to molting was 38.6 ± 24.9SD hours. Females spawned within 24 hours of molting. Competition among males for females was observed, and larger males appeared to have a competitive advantage although copulation occurred even when males were smaller than their mates.