We review the three major reproductive pathways displayed by snow crab, Chionoecetes
opilio. Females can copulate in either a soft-or hard-shelled condition and also fertilize eggs
with sperm stored in their spermathecae. Spermatophore partitioning and preservation
mechanisms in the spermatheca plus postulated spermatophore removal abilities in males
play central roles in shaping mating behavior. However, fitness consequences of the various
strategies are enigmatic. Fecundity is influenced by both spermatophore source and female …