Premating and Mating Behavior of the Dungeness Crab (Cancer magister Dana)

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Abstract
A male and female Dungeness crab (Cancer magister Dana) were kept under continuous observation in an aquarium to observe the premating embrace, female ecdysis, and mating. The male held the female in premating embrace from June 10 until June 18, 1965, when she molted. The male allowed the female to reverse her position from the premating embrace, sternum to sternum, to that of female carapace to male sternum only after she became aggressive. The male never allowed the female to escape from his control while she molted. Copulation occurred 1 hr and 32 min after female ecdysis, when the new exoskeleton had firmed somewhat, and the male carried the female in a postmating embrace for 2 days.Extensive wear on the chelipeds of male crabs may reflect prolonged periods in the premating embrace and stroking of the female by the male rather than matings with several females. The male crab probably becomes aware of the female's readiness to molt by her aggressive pinching of maxillae and eyestalks.

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