Reproductive behaviour of the caprellid amphipod,Caprella Scaura Typica, Mayer 1890

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Abstract
Caprella scaura typica is common in communities of fouling animals in tropical waters. Courtship and mating involve exploration of the female by the male using antennae and maxillipeds followed by moulting of the female and copulation. During courtship and mating, males are very aggressive and will fight off all other animals. There were significantly more deaths from intraspecific fighting between males when sexually receptive females were present. Soon after a successful mating, the female also becomes very aggressive and resists further attempts at mating. The young hatch 4 days after the eggs are deposited in the brood pouch but remain there for up to 12 hours while their locomotory movements become fully coordinated. The young may be assisted from the pouch by the mother and will initially cling to her body. They scrape epiphytes from her body for food and she will periodically groom them. After a week the young are actively removed by the mother to fend for themselves.