Growth of the burrowing crayfish Parastacus nicoleti (Philippi, 1882) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parastacidae)

Abstract

We examined the individual growth of the burrowing crayfish Parastacus nicoleti (Philippi, 1882) based on a sample of 1,425 specimens. Individuals were collected monthly from November 1981 to December 1982, in the marshy wetlands of the "Pangal" homestead in Reumen, southern Chile. The Cephalothorax Length (CL) and Body Weight (BW) were recorded for all specimens. The asymptotic length parameters (L-infinity) and the growth coefficient (k) were established using the Gulland and Holt method (1959). The t(0) parameter was obtained through the inverse von Bertalanffy equation and the length-weight relationship was determined according to the equation proposed by Ricker (1975). The asymptotic size and weight were 45.754 mm and 18.50 g, respectively. The growth constant was 0.703/year. Estimated longevity was 4.32 years. We concluded that P. nicoleti is a relatively small species with poor growth indicators for size and weight and, consequently, is not an attractive species for commercial aquaculture purposes.