The long-term sand crab study: phenology, geographic size variation, and a rare new colour morph in Lepidopa benedicti (Decapoda: Albuneidae)

ABSTRACT

Little is known about the basic ecology of albuneid sand crabs because they conceal themselves by digging in sand, and are typically found at low densities. I sampled sand crabs, Lepidopa benedicti were sampled at South Padre Island, Texas, regularly for more than five years. Density is high in the summer, and low in the winter. The sex ratio is slightly, but consistently, female skewed. Ovigerous females, carrying about one thousand eggs, are found in mid-summer, with most of the young of the year settling in autumn. The average size of individuals in the South Texas population is smaller than individuals in the Atlantic Ocean, but the population density appear to be higher in Texas. I also describe a new orange colour morph. The results are not consistent with an earlier suggestion that South Texas acts as a population sink for L. benedicti.