Moulting of a deep-sea galatheid crab (Anomura, Galatheidae) at a depth of 3572 m

The moulting of the deep-sea galatheid crab, Mundopsissp. was observed using a seafloor observatory at a depth of 3572 m in Nankai Trough, western Japan. The duration of the ecdysis was 147 seconds. The crab rested on the substratum until ecdysis was complete. After ecdysis, it flicked and moved away from its exuviae. The newly moulted galatheid crab did not consume its cast exoskeleton.