To clarify the effect of environmental endocrine disruptors on the induction of secondary sexual characteristics in wild animals, we observed 1,527 male and 1,847 female specimens of sexually mature Japanese freshwater crabs, Geothelphusa dehaani, collected at 12 sample points from 10 rivers in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. The results obtained were as follows:
Abnormal males, with external appearance of a complete male, but having female genital openings, were observed at frequencies of 8–32% of males collected at all sample points. In contrast to this, all females collected were normal.
The frequency of abnormal males increased significantly with the increase in individual carapace width.
This species inhabits mountain streams in Japan, which are free from tributyltin that is known to induce the sexual mosaic phenomenon in mollusks. The streams are most likely polluted by some agricultural chemicals and chemicals present in waste gases from cars and especially particulate materials from diesel engines. The clear relationship of the frequencies of abnormal males to size (or age) suggests that the sexual mosaic phenomenon is induced not only at early stages of male development but after sexual maturation, in response to long-term exposure to chemical(s) during the whole life cycle of males. The definitive causal factors and mechanisms inducing sexual mosaics in this species are still unclear.
