Crustacean Reproductive Records

Crustacean reproductive traits are highly diverse, and this chapter illustrates some of the most extreme cases, placing them in the context of the more typical crustaceans. It highlights, for example, the male and female records of size and age, the “hottest” and “coolest” reproducers, the longest penises, the largest sperm and eggs, the smallest and largest brood sizes, the longest mate guarding, the most massive sexually selected weapons, the flashiest courtship, the most fathers per brood, the longest incubation of broods, the smallest and largest larvae, the longest larval duration, the longest dormancy of eggs, and the oldest fossil evidence of penis, sperm, brood care, and larvae. Using these illustrious case studies, this chapter briefly examines the adaptive advantages of these extremes and discusses why few species have evolved unusual reproductive traits. Crustaceans indeed appear to hold animal records with respect to relative penis length, aflagellate sperm length, dormant egg viability and fossil ages of penis, giant sperm, and brood care. These captivating examples may be of applied importance in terms of restoring human-altered ecosystems (resurrection ecology using egg banks) and in management strategies of important fisheries.