Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Marine Science => Topic started by: Venividivici on 05/03/2015 15:23:09

Title: Why do soldier crabs drown?
Post by: Venividivici on 05/03/2015 15:23:09

Soldier crabs, or specifically light-blue soldier crabs (Mictyris longicarpus) have both lungs and gills (albeit only 5 gills). 90% of their oxygen intake comes from their lungs. When their burrow collapses during high tide and the ocean water fills their burrow, they drown. Why? Is this because their gills are not powerful/efficient enough to supply them with sufficient oxygen?

might be a helpful link:
http://www.gbri.org.au/SpeciesList/Mictyrislongicarpus%7CKateBuchanan.aspx?moid=813&PageContentID=5035

Title: Re: Why do soldier crabs drown?
Post by: Don_1 on 11/03/2015 11:33:29

As an air breathing crab, they cannot sustain prolonged periods submerged.

This article may be of interest to you.
http://jeb.biologists.org/content/187/1/113.full.pdf