Behavioural strategy of the ectosymbiotic crab (Sestrostomasp.) during ecdysis of the crab and its upogebiid shrimp host

Moulting is essential for crustacean growth, but is one of the causes of mortality, because a crustacean cannot move during and just after its ecdysis. In the cases of ectosymbiotic crabs, escape from the host's hostile response may also be a problem during its own ecdysis. In this study, Sestrostoma sp. (Varunidae), an ectosymbiotic crab which clings to the ventral abdomen of upogebiid shrimps with legs that can walk, was studied to clarify how...