First Observations of Podding Behavior for the Pacific Lyre Crab Hyas Lyratus (Decapoda: Majidae)

Abstract

This paper reports the first observations of podding behavior (aggregation) for the Pacific lyre crab Hyas lyratus near Kodiak Island, Alaska. Pods containing approximately 2,000 crabs of both sexes were observed on 2 separate occasions during dives in the 2-person submersible Delta in April 1991. The pods appeared to be mating aggregations. The pods occurred in an average depth of 115 m. - p. 193