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For polyandrous species where females have sperm storage structures, males develop several strategies to avoid sperm competition and thus to maximize the number of eggs fertilized. On the other hand, females may receive several benefits from multiple paternity (indirect and directly), and a potential sexual conflict can arise. This research describes the mating systems of an exploited crab species (Metacarcinus edwardsii), integrating (1) the individual level by assessing the mating behavior in a scenario of potential polyandry, (2) the organ level by examining histological sections of seminal receptacles from localities with scenarios of contrasting sex ratios, and (3) the genetic level by measuring the number of parents involved in egg clutches. We found that females can mate with multiple males under experimental conditions. Further, in all localities, we found histological evidences that sperm receptacles …