Functional morphology of the Chelipeds, mouthparts and gastric mill ofOzius truncatus (Milne Edwards) (Xanthidae) andLeptograpsus variegatus (Fabricius) (Grapsidae) (Brachyura)
Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 37(1) 67 - 79
Published: 1986
Abstract
Field and laboratory observations show thatO. truncatus is a predator on gastropod molluscs, using dimorphiccrusher-cutter chelipeds to remove the shell. The soft gastropod body is then presented to the maxillipeds.The third maxillipeds and mandibles tear the food, but the fragments reaching the foregut are still relativelylarge. The gastric mill ossicles ofO. truncatus are robust, with few setae.
L. variegatus is an opportunistic omnivore using equal cutting-scraping chelipeds in an alternating action,mainly in plucking and scraping algae. The food fragments reaching the maxillipeds are finely shreddedby the chelipeds. The small food fragments are ingested directly, being pushed into the mouth by the mandibularpalps. The maxillipeds and mouthparts do not triturate the food. The gastric mill ossicles ofL. variegatusare finely toothed and setose. Analogous functional relationships between ingestion mechanisms and gastricmill occur in Anomura. The need for further studies on Brachyura is stressed.
https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9860067
©CSIRO 1986
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