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Journal of Experimental Biology 103,237-251 (1983)
Published by Company of Biologists 1983

Aerial Gas Exchange in Australian Freshwater/Land Crabs of the Genus Holthuisana

PETER GREENAWAY 1, H. H. TAYLOR 2, and J. BONAVENTURA 3

1 School of Zoology, University of N.S.W.P.O. Box 1, Kensington, N.S.W. 2033, Australia
2 Department of Zoology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag, Christchurch, New Zealand
3 Marine Biomedical Center, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, North Carolina 28516, U.S.A.

Holthuisana valentula Riek and H. agassizi (Rathbun) both ventilate their lungs by lateral oscillations of the thoracic walls within the branchial chambers. Air enters and leaves the lungs via the prebranchial apertures and the Milne-Edwards apertures. At rest, active ventilation in H. transversa was low (0.95 ml g-1 h-1) and a high diffusional component was evident. After disturbance, VA rose to 45.4ml g-1 and % extraction was low (1.1%). Ventilation increased during moderate hypercapnia and marked hypoxia. MO2 was high after disturbance (2.95µmol g-1 h-1) but declined to very low levels at rest (0.45µmol g-1 h-1). The haemocyanin had a relatively low affinity for oxygen during air-breathing (P50 = 13 Torr) but it was saturated with oxygen at normal PaO2 (56.1 Torr). CCO2 in the haemolymph (13 mmol l-7) was characteristic of air-breathing crabs. The respiratory performances of H. transversa in air and water are compared.

Key words: Gas exchange, Holthuisana, land crab

Submitted on August 16, 1981
Accepted on September 20, 1982






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1983