Morphometric analysis of the mud crab Hexapanopeus paulensis Rathbun, 1930 (Decapoda, Xanthoidea) from the southeastern coast of Brazil

• DOI: 10.3856/vol42-issue3-fulltext-16
• Publication Date: 2014-07-15T20:12:32Z
• Authors: Thiago Elias Silva; Patricia Bianca F...; Ariadine Cristine...; Giovana Bertini; Vivian Fransozo
• Keywords: Allometry; Gonopod; Sexual maturity

In this study, we estimated the size at onset of maturity (carapace width, CW50) and analyzed relative growth some body parts heterochely mud crab Hexapanopeus paulensis. A total 800 crabs were collected, from January 1998 to December 1999, on southeastern coast Brazil. Each specimen was sexed measured. CW50 be 6.7 mm in males 6.3 females. Carapace length negatively allometric both sexes. Cheliped height positively for Gonopod isometric (b = 1) juvenile adult females, right cheliped larger higher than left cheliped. Such may related feeding habits H. Most xanthoid crabs, including studied species, feed upon mollusks with dextral shells, which require complicated handling. sense, paulensis might facilitate food manipulation.