Abstract

The first quantitative report about limb autotomy in decapods that inhabit the southeastern Pacific Ocean is here presented. The study analysed samples coming from the south of the Gulf of Arauco, central Chile, of a population of the estuarine crab, Hemigrapsus crenulatus in the course of one year. The number and type of limb lost were registered for each sex. Fifty-two percent of the males and 47% of the females presented at least one limb lost for all samples analysed. Limb types more frequently autotomized were the chelipeds of the males (32%) and the fifth pereiopods of the females (24%). These results indicate that this phenomenon recurs in the population, probably as a consequence of threats from predators or from intraspecific interactions (e.g., cannibalism). © 2006 Koninklijke Brill NV.