CRUSTACEANS- CRABS,

SHRIMPS AND PRAWNS

CRABS
 A crustacean have Exoskeleton and
jointed legs.
 Undergo Process of Moulting
 Mud crabs emerge at night to forage for
food; they eat almost anything.
 Crabs most often seek to burrow out of
sight for protection.
 They like sheltered waters such as
estuaries and mangrove areas.
LIFECYCLE
LIFECYCLE OF CRABS
 Zoea – A mud crab begins life as a larva
called a ‘zoea’, which hatches from an egg.
It
 Megalopae – A zoea grows by ‘moulting’
(shedding its shell) four times over 12 to 15
days
 Juvenile crab – A miniature version of the
adult, it is about 4 mm wide.
 Young adult – The crab reaches sexual
maturity at 18 to 24 months.
 Mating – In the warmer months, mature
females release a ‘pheromone’ (chemical
attractant) into the water to attract males.
 Spawning and hatching - The female
migrates offshore to spawn. The fertilized
eggs are released in batches of two to five
million.
PARTS OF MUD CRABS
SEX DETERMINATION
TYPES OF MUD CRABS