Maturation and growth curves of Macrobrachium Carcinus (Linnaeus) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae) from Ribeira de Iguape River, southern Brazil

Abstract

In this paper, female Macrobrachium carcinus (Linnaeus, 1758) maturation curve, weight/length relationship, length and weight growth curves were studied. Prawns were captured, by traps, in Ribeira de Iguape river (24 degree S and 47 degree W), southern Brazil. There were used 207 females. It was observed that M. carcinus presents several spawnings during its life cycle and reproductive period goes on, at least till six years old. Weight/length relationship can be represented for the equation W = 8.73 E-3 L super(3.28). Expressions obtained for length and weight growth curves are L sub(t) = 21.0 (1-e super(-0.493t)) and W sub(t) = 190 (1-e super(-0.493t)) super(3.28), respectively. Asymptotic maximum length and asymptotic maximum weight are nearly attained at six and eight years old, respectively.