New Insights Into Decapod Chemical Communication: A Focus on the Hydrothermal Vent Crab Xenograpsus testudinatus

Abstract

Chemical communication in decapod crustaceans has been extensively studied for over 150 years, with most of the research focusing on sex pheromones. These crustaceans inhabit chemically complex environments and rely on diverse chemical signals for essential behaviors such as mate recognition, predator avoidance, and social interaction. This review synthesizes key findings from studies on shrimp, crayfish, lobsters, and crabs, the most well-documented taxa in crustacean chemical ecology. Various appendages, including the first and second antennae, mouthparts, and walking legs, are involved in chemosensory detection. Special emphasis is placed on chemical communication in extreme environments such as hydrothermal vents (HVs), with the vent crab Xenograpsus testudinatus serving as a focal species. Investigating the chemosensory adaptations of this species offers valuable insights into crustacean survival strategies under conditions of low pH and high sulfide, which may resemble future ocean scenarios driven by climate change. This review highlights both current understanding and critical knowledge gaps of chemical communication in HVadapted decapods.