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Research progress on limb autotomy and regeneration of crabs.

ZHANG Cong, HUANG Gen-yong, XU Min-jie, PANG Yang-yang, CHENG Yong-xu, YANG Xiao-zhen*   

  1. (National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture; Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China).
  • Online:2018-05-10 Published:2018-05-10

Abstract: Limb autotomy and regeneration of crab, a self-protection mechanism, is an effective behavioral strategy for facing with extreme conditions such as predators, competitors, and harsh environments. The most common autotomy type is single-limb autotomy. After being autotomized, the crab usually recovers through the regeneration and molting cycle. There is a high rate of limb autotomy of medium-sized crabs (4-6 g) in the growing stage, which has no variation between genders. The single-limb autotomy usually occurs in one side. The probability of autotomy posterior limb is obviously higher than that of the front one. Moreover, the limb autotomy showed interspecific and intraspecific differences, and are dependent on habitat conditions. Limb autotomy affects the growth, survival and feeding habits of crabs. In this review, we summarized the main animal species and parts with the phenomenon of autotomy and regeneration. With the crab as an example, we illustrated the patterns and reasons of limb autotomy, and the influences of limb autotomy on regrowth and regeneration. This review also proposed some prospects for furtherexploration of the patterns and mechanisms of autotomy and regeneration.

Key words: Quercus aliena var. acureserrata, semi-shady slope, sunny slope, semi-sunny slope, seed rain, soil seed bank., shady slope