<smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"><smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"><smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"> Carapace width and weight relationships, condition factor, relative condition factor and gonado-somatic index (GSI) of mud crabs (<i style="">Scylla spp.</i>) from Chilika Lagoon, India. </smarttagtype></smarttagtype></smarttagtype>

Abstract

Carapace width (CW)-weight relationship, condition factor (K), relative condition factor (Kn) and gonado-somatic index (GSI) for meaty and post-moulted crabs of both sexes of the two mud crab species, <i style="">Scylla serrata</i> (Forskal) and <i style="">S. tranquebarica</i> (Fabricius) co-existing in Chilika lagoon, Orissa, India, were studied during August, 2005 to July, 2007. CW-weight equations and correlation co-efficient (r) obtained for both sexes of meaty and water crabs of the two species were significant (<i style="">P</i>< 0.05-0.01). Regression slopes (b) were higher for males and fattened crabs in both the species. The K and Kn values recorded in each month for different size groups of both sexes of the two species were higher in male and values were relatively higher in <i style="">S. tranquebarica</i> than <i style="">S. serrata</i>. Increase in Kn values beyond 1.0 from 81-91 mm CW in <i style="">S. serrata</i> and 111-120 mm CW in <i style="">S. tranquebarica</i> indicated the size at first maturity. Higher monthly values indicated that breeding period was extended from August-November and March-July in <i style="">S. serrata</i> and <i style="">S. tranquebarica</i> respectively. Species-specific study aimed at establishing difference in biological characters between two species of <i style="">Scylla[a</i><i style="">^′] </i>from same brackishwater habitat. CW-weight relationship may be useful in setting feeding rates for a particular species in aquaculture.