Abstract
THE different parts of the exoskeleton of portunid crabs show a wide range of hardness and rigidity. The most rigid structure is the dactylus of the chela; most flexible and soft are the unmineralized joints between the limbs. The propodus, the carapace and the pleopods represent intermediate stages of rigidity. Because the extent of mineralization largely determines the flexibility and hardness of the exoskeleton we were interested to identify the important factors in this calcification process.
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DEGENS, E., CAREY, F. & SPENCER, D. Amino-acids and Amino-sugars in Calcified Tissues of Portunid Crabs. Nature 216, 601–603 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/216601a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/216601a0
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