MORPHOMETRICS, LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP AND RELATIVE CONDITION FACTOR OF PORTUNUS SANGUINOLENTUS (HERBST, 1783) (PORTUNIDAE) FROM NORTH-WEST COAST OF INDIA.

The morphometric, carapace width/length - total weight relationship and relative condition factor (Kn) of Portunus sanguinolentus from Veraval waters were studied. All the morphometric characters showed a wide range of coefficient of variation indicating high levels of intra-population variation. The comparison of different morphometric characters with carapace width showed good to a high degree of correlation with all the characters indicating a high degree of interdependence of these characters. The relationships between carapace width and total weight were TW = 0.5444 CW2.1961 and TW = 0.8118 CW2.0076 for males and females, respectively. Analysis of Covariance of carapace width - total weight data suggested that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the mean weight of males and females. Males are heavier than females at any given length of the species. The relative condition factor (Kn) of females was higher compared to males which could be associated with the energy requirement for reproductive processes. The present outcome indicated that males are heavier than females at any given length of the crab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]