ALLOMETRIC PATTERNS IN UCA TANGERI MALES FROM AN EXPLOITED POPULATION AT SAN PEDRO RIVER, ANDALUCÍA, SPAIN

COLPO KARINE D.; NEGREIROS-FRANSOZO MARIA LUCIA; RODRIGUEZ ANTONIO

NAUPLIUS

BRAZILIAN CRUSTACEAN SOCIETY

Año: 2003 vol. 11 p. 57 - 61

0104-6497

Uca tangeri is a single existent European fiddler crab. Fishermen take the males major claw off due to its price in local markets. Such explotation is thogth does not affect population structure, since crabs are given back to the environment. Size at onsetof maturity was evaluated using relative growth analyses based on the allometry of the carapace and chelipeds. Intact males represented 51.1% of the sample, males with a regenerating cheliped represent 25% and males without the major claw 23.9%. Crabs with a regenerating claw biased both the allometric index and the regression coefficient. The estimated size at sexual maturity using the total of males was 18.0 mm carapace width, and 14.0 mm when regenerating males was excluded. Claw exploitation may change male U. tangeri behavior, since this appendage is very important during courtship and territory defense