Heikegani: Difference between revisions
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'''Heikegani''' (平家蟹, ヘイケガニ) (''Heikea japonica'') is a species of [[crab]] native to [[Japan]], with a shell that bears a pattern resembling a human face. It is locally believed that these crabs are [[reincarnation]]s of the spirits of the [[Taira|Heike]] warriors defeated at the [[Battle of Dan-no-ura]] as told in ''[[The Tale of the Heike]]''. |
'''Heikegani''' (平家蟹, ヘイケガニ) (''Heikea japonica'') is a species of [[crab]] native to [[Japan]], with a shell that bears a pattern resembling a human face. It is locally believed that these crabs are [[reincarnation]]s of the spirits of the [[Taira|Heike]] warriors defeated at the [[Battle of Dan-no-ura]] as told in ''[[The Tale of the Heike]]''. |
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Heikegani were used by [[Carl Sagan]] in his popular science television show ''[[Cosmos: A Personal Voyage]]'' as an example of unintentional [[artificial selection]],<ref>http://www.educatedearth.net/video.php?id=4293</ref> an interpretation published by [[Julian Huxley]] in 1952.<ref name="Martin">{{cite journal |author=Joel W. Martin |title=The Samurai Crab |journal=Terra |year=1993 |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=30–34 |url=http://crustacea.nhm.org/people/martin/publications/pdf/103.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]}}</ref> According to this |
Heikegani were used by [[Carl Sagan]] in his popular science television show ''[[Cosmos: A Personal Voyage]]'' as an example of unintentional [[artificial selection]],<ref>http://www.educatedearth.net/video.php?id=4293</ref> an interpretation published by [[Julian Huxley]] in 1952.<ref name="Martin">{{cite journal |author=Joel W. Martin |title=The Samurai Crab |journal=Terra |year=1993 |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=30–34 |url=http://crustacea.nhm.org/people/martin/publications/pdf/103.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]}}</ref> According to this hypothesis, the crabs with shells resembling Samurai were thrown back to the sea by the fishers on respect to the Heike warriors, while those not resembling Samurai were eaten, giving the former a greater chance of reproducing. Thus, the more closely the crabs resemble a samurai face, the more likely they would be spared and thrown back.<ref name="Martin"/> |
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However, this artificial selection theory is false, since no crabs from this species are eaten, showing that there is no selective pressure for such a change.<ref name="Martin"/> The pattern of ridges on the [[carapace]] serves a very functional purpose as sites of [[muscle]] attachment. Similar patterns are found on species in many parts of the world, including [[fossil]] remains.<ref name="Martin"/> |
However, this artificial selection theory is false, since no crabs from this species are eaten, showing that there is no selective pressure for such a change.<ref name="Martin"/> The pattern of ridges on the [[carapace]] serves a very functional purpose as sites of [[muscle]] attachment. Similar patterns are found on species in many parts of the world, including [[fossil]] remains.<ref name="Martin"/> |
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Revision as of 01:20, 13 April 2011
| Heikegani | |
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| Species: | H. japonica
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| Binomial name | |
| Heikea japonica (von Siebold, 1824)
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Heikegani (平家蟹, ヘイケガニ) (Heikea japonica) is a species of crab native to Japan, with a shell that bears a pattern resembling a human face. It is locally believed that these crabs are reincarnations of the spirits of the Heike warriors defeated at the Battle of Dan-no-ura as told in The Tale of the Heike.
Heikegani were used by Carl Sagan in his popular science television show Cosmos: A Personal Voyage as an example of unintentional artificial selection,[1] an interpretation published by Julian Huxley in 1952.[2] According to this hypothesis, the crabs with shells resembling Samurai were thrown back to the sea by the fishers on respect to the Heike warriors, while those not resembling Samurai were eaten, giving the former a greater chance of reproducing. Thus, the more closely the crabs resemble a samurai face, the more likely they would be spared and thrown back.[2]
However, this artificial selection theory is false, since no crabs from this species are eaten, showing that there is no selective pressure for such a change.[2] The pattern of ridges on the carapace serves a very functional purpose as sites of muscle attachment. Similar patterns are found on species in many parts of the world, including fossil remains.[2]
References
- ^ http://www.educatedearth.net/video.php?id=4293
- ^ a b c d Joel W. Martin (1993). "The Samurai Crab" (PDF). Terra. 31 (4): 30–34.