COMPARATIVE SEROLOGY OF SOME BRACHYURAN CRUSTACEA AND STUDIES IN HEMOCYANIN CORRESPONDENCE

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Abstract
The usefulness in taxonomic studies of the sera of Crustacea which were collected and stored over a period of years under a variety of conditions was determined by measuring their serological correspondence. The turbidimetric analysis of the precipitin reaction, using the alpha procedure was the technique employed for comparisons. Freezing, Seitz filtration, centrifuga-tion, and refrigerator storage for periods up to 15 yrs. did not change the serological activity of the hemocyanins. No serum differences due to sex were revealed. Single specimen samples and pooled samples of sera had the same reactivity. Spontaneous precipitation of part of the protein in some samples did not alter the serological activity of the still soluble portions. Bacterial contamination, if not permitted to endure too long, and if kept under refrigeration, does not alter the serological activity of the serum significantly. Studies in serological systematics were extended to include representatives of additional families of decapod Crustacea. The brachyuran families Portunidae, Xanthidae and Cancridae are more closely related to each other than all of them are to the Ocypodidae, Calappidae and Majidae.
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