BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Liocarcinus depurator
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Lizzie Tyler	Data supplied by	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
General Biology
Growth form	Articulate	Feeding method	Predator Scavenger
Mobility/Movement	Swimmer Crawler Burrower	Environmental position	Demersal
Typical food types	Polychaetes, crustaceans, molluscs, ophiuroids and fishes constitute most of the diet (Freire, 1996).	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Insufficient information	Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	1km-10km	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
General Biology Additional Information	Size range and size at maturity: values given are for Mediterranean individuals (Muino et al., 1999). Feeding: Swimming crabs may exploit a wide range of dietary items including algae, sponges and many small invertebrates and may be considered omnivorous. However, Liocarcinus depurator is typically a scavenger and a carnivore. Freire et al. (1996) suggest the high diversity of food items in the diet of Liocarcinus depurator is due to the versatile functional structure of the chelipeds. Host for: Abelló et al., (1988) found 5% of individuals in the northwestern Mediterranean infested with the polychaete Iphitime cuenoti. No evidence of disease in the branchial chamber was found and the authors suggest a commensal relationship between the crab and the polychaete. However, the relationship may involve some degree of parasitism. In the Firth of Lorne the parasitic nemertean Carcinonemertes carcinophila was found the gills of over 90% of Liocarcinus depurator sampled (Comely & Ansell, 1989(b)).
Biology References	Mori & Zunino, 1987, Abelló et al., 1988, Freire, 1996, Comely & Ansell, 1989(b), Muino et al., 1999, Abelló et al., 1991, Freire et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data,