Hatching of an estuarine crab, Sesarma haematocheir: Factors affecting the timing of hatching in detached embryos, and enhancement of hatching synchrony by the female

The zoeas of the estuarine terrestrial crab Sesarma haematocheir hatch in synchrony with nocturnal high tides. Hatching is also highly synchronized among embryos: i.e., female-attached embryos would all hatch within 1 h, if the female is maintained at about 23°C. This study examined the factors affecting the timing of hatching in female-attached and detached embryos. The timing of hatching in the embryos detached from the female was somewhat affected by continuous light, salinity, and cluster size, but it was much more strongly affected by low temperature. In addition, a notable feature was that the influence of low temperature was markedly different between female-attached embryos and detached embryos. Hatching of this crab occurs after a special developmental process for hatching ('hatching program') that requires 48-49.5 h. This program would be mediated by a temperature-dependent process. Hatching of this crab cannot be fully explained in terms of osmotic effects. Since hatching of female-attached embryos was highly synchronized, the female should release an (unknown) stimulus enhancing hatching synchrony among embryos. Highly synchronized hatching among embryos would enable the female to release hatched zoeas into the water all at one time.