Breakdown and reformation of somatic muscle during the molt cycle of the land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis

For intermolt (nongrowing) specimens of the land crab G. lateralis the amount of recoverable muscle per claw equals 0.095 ± 0.013 (propus length × propus width) 3/2 gm/cm 2 . During the premolt period (approximately 50 days in large specimens of this animal) the quantity of muscle per chela decreases to approximately 60% the amount found in intermolt animals; during this time the fraction of protein per unit of wet weight of muscle remains constant. Therefore the decrease in wet weight represents extensive degradation of the tissue, not merely water loss. Immediately after ecdysis water moves into the tissue. Approximately two weeks later, muscle proteins are rapidly synthesized, and the animal enters a new intermolt period with both the amount of muscle per chela and the dimensions of the chela greater than in the previous intermolt period.