Morphometric analysis of the mud crab Hexapanopeus paulensis Rathbun, 1930 (Decapoda, Xanthoidea) from the southeastern coast of Brazil/Análisis morfométrico del cangrejo de fango Hexapanopeus paulensis Rathbun, 1930 (Decapoda, Xanthoidea) del litoral sureste de Brasil

In this study, we estimated the size at onset of maturity (carapace width, CW^sub 50^) and analyzed the relative growth of some body parts and the heterochely of the mud crab Hexapanopeus paulensis. A total of 800 crabs were collected, from January 1998 to December 1999, on the southeastern coast of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inLatin american journal of aquatic research Vol. 42; no. 3; p. 588
Main Authors Silva, Thiago Elias, Fumis, Patrícia Bianca, Almeida, Ariadine Cristine, Bertini, Giovana, Fransozo, Vivian
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Valparaiso Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso 01.07.2014
Subjects
Allometry
Animal behavior
Animal reproduction
Aquatic crustaceans
Carapace
Crustaceans
Decapoda
Feed composition
Females
Growth
Hexapanopeus paulensis
Isometric
Juveniles
Males
Marine crustaceans
Marine ecology
Morphometry
Xanthoidea
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Summary:In this study, we estimated the size at onset of maturity (carapace width, CW^sub 50^) and analyzed the relative growth of some body parts and the heterochely of the mud crab Hexapanopeus paulensis. A total of 800 crabs were collected, from January 1998 to December 1999, on the southeastern coast of Brazil. Each specimen was sexed and measured. CW^sub 50^ was estimated to be 6.7 mm in males and 6.3 mm in females. Carapace length growth was negatively allometric in both sexes. Cheliped length and height was positively allometric for both males and females. Gonopod growth was isometric (b = 1) and negatively allometric (b < 1) in both juvenile and adult males, respectively. Abdomen relative growth was positively allometric (b > 1) for both juvenile and adult females. In males and females, the right cheliped was larger and higher than the left cheliped. Such heterochely may be related to the feeding habits of H. paulensis. Most xanthoid crabs, including the studied species, feed upon mollusks with dextral shells, which require complicated handling. In this sense, the heterochely in H. paulensis might facilitate the food manipulation.
ISSN:0718-560X