Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Carapace width and length to weight relationship of edible crabs from the coastal waters of Alappuzha, Kerala

Volume 65 Issue 1

P. Arya and L. Bindu

doi:10.6024/jmbai.2023.65.1.2389-20

Abstract

The present study evaluated the relationships between carapace width, length and body weight increments among different species of marine edible crabs of coastal Alappuzha, Kerala. A total of 1127 specimens of four species, Portunus pelagicus, Portunus sanguinolentus, Charybdis feriatus and Charybdis lucifera were collected for the study. The b values obtained ranged from 2.396 to 3.456 in the carapace width-weight relationship and 2.386 to 3.073 in the carapace length-weight relationship. The results indicated a positive allometry (b>3) in P. pelagicus in the carapace width-weight relationship (b=3.456) and C. feriatus in the carapace length-weight relationship (b=3.073). The species P. sanguinolentus and C. lucifera showed negative allometric growth (b<3) in both relationships. P. pelagicus male exhibited positive allometry in both relationships. The present study showed that growth patterns varied among various species and different sexes of crabs.

Keywords

Marine crabs, growth coefficient, allometric growth, Portunus, Charybdis.

Date : 29-04-2023