Aspectos da reprodução do caranguejo guaiamum, Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille (Crustácea, Decapoda, Gecarcinidae) da Baía de Sepetiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Abstract

The objective of this work is to get knowledge about the "guaiamum" crabs reproduction. Two hundred and twenty four crabs were caught from August'96 to July'97. Their sex carapace color and morphometric data were obtained. The stages of gonadal development were macroscopically determined and the eggs diameter was measured. Three colors patters for the carapace for males, and four patters for females. Five stages of gonadal development were observed in female crabs, and two stages were observed for males. The first sexual maturity was estimated 53,0 mm carapace width for the females and 52,0 mm for the males. The ovigerous females occurred from March to May. The individual fecundity varied from 103.300 to 366.400 eggs. The eggs mean diameter was 0,39 mm.