Motility and acoustic signals of the decapod Cherax destructor

The present study examined for the first time the sound production and motility of the freshwater decapod crustacean Cherax destructor. An acoustic and video system was used to monitor the behavior of 10 individual (5 males and 5 females) in an experimental tank. Video data were used to analyze three motility variables (velocity, distance moved, and angular velocity). Acoustic data were analyzed to obtain abundance and these acoustic parameters: duration, 1st and 2nd peak frequency, sound pressure level (SPL) and the bandwidth. Both males and females produced short-duration pulses that could be grouped into three categories, high, medium, and low frequency. Males showed a higher rate of emi…