Two size groups of crabs were used, small crabs of an average carapace width of 4 cm, and larger crabs of an average carapace width of 11 cm.
The antennal gland is 3 5 mm in length and 2 3 mm in width in an average individual with a carapace width of 35±5 mm covered by connective tissue and the bladder sac (Fig. 2B,C), the antennal gland is extremely soft and fragile.
The eggs are larger than in other gecarcinid species and consequently fewer in number; females with a carapace width of 94 mm had a mean fecundity of 72,000.
Fecundity varied from 10 to 740 eggs, with an average of 230 ± 173 eggs/female, showing linear relation with carapace width.
Fecundity varied from 10 to 740 eggs, with an average of 230 ± 173 eggs/female, showing linear relation with the carapace width.
where F = absolute fecundity and CW = female carapace width.
The value of "b" denotes a faster increase in the carapace width than the body weight.
The isometric growth rate was calculated between carapace width and carapace length (regression coefficient; b = 1.009); this agrees with Kotb and Hartnoll (2002) on H. marsupialis.
The value of "b" denotes the fast increase in carapace width than body weight.
