Behavioural thermoregulation and critical thermal limits of Macrobrachium acanthurus (Wiegman)

(1) The preferred temperatures of Macrobrachium acanthurus were determined for prawns acclimated to 20°C, 23°C, 26°C, 29°C and 32°C, and the final preferendum estimate was (29.5°C). (2) The critical thermal minima (CTMin) and maxima (CTMax) were 11.0°C, 12.1°C, 13.0°C and 14.8°C, and 34.2°C, 35.0°C, 36.1°C and 39.8°C, respectively. (3) The zone of thermal tolerance assessed using the CTMin and CTMax boundaries was 644°C2. (4) The acclimation response ratio was between 0.33 and 0.62. (5) To cultivate this species in the southeastern region of Mexico it should be done in not