Growth of Chasmagnathus granulatus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Grapsidae) at Lagoa do Peixe, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

The growth study in width of Chasmagnathus granulatus Dana, 1851 was based on biometric data of 1,940 specimens colleted at Lagoa do Peixe, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The samplings were realized from July/1994 to June/1995. For each captured specimens the sex and width of cephalothorax were recorded. The von Bertalanffy's model was utilized for the growth description. The growth curves in width (mm), for data obtained through the modal progression, are described by the equations: Lt= 44,69 [1- e -0.0066(t+20,45)] and Lt= 37,63 [1- e -0.0072(t+21,92)], resulting in a maximum estimated age of 2 years for males and females.