Some aspects of relative growth in the Blue Swimming Crab Neptunus pelagicus (Linnaeus)

Abstract

The Blue Swimming Crab, Neptunus pelagicus displays in some of its parts a marked sexual dimorphism (Prasad and Tampi, 1953) and, therefore, the authors felt that a study of the relative growth of such parts might be interesting. Further, as Weymouth and MacKay (1936) pointed out: "This method of analysis makes possible the detection of changes of form which occur at certain physiological epochs, notably that of attaining sexual maturity. In the crab, as in most in• vertebrates, growth continues although at a decreasing rate throughout life. Accordingly there is no final or definiti ve size or form as in man.