Relative growth and morphological sexual maturity of the caridean shrimp Nematopalaemon schmitti (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae) in an upwelling region in the Western Atlantic* |
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Authors: | Daphine Ramiro Herrera Thiago Maia Davanso Rogerio Caetano da Costa |
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Affiliation: | 1. Laboratory of Biology of Marine and Freshwater Shrimp (LABCAM), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, S?o Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru, Brazildaphine_herrera@hotmail.com;3. Institute of Health Sciences, Paulista University (UNIP), Bauru, Brazil;4. Laboratory of Biology of Marine and Freshwater Shrimp (LABCAM), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, S?o Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru, Brazil |
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Abstract: | In crustaceans, successful reproductive processes, such as the transition from juvenile to adult, exhibit important morphological changes that can be detected by analyzing relative growth. This study describes the relative growth of body structures in Nematopalaemon schmitti and its secondary sexual characteristics, and also estimates the morphological sexual maturity of this species in a region influenced by upwelling. The carapace length (CL), second pleuron length (PlL), cheliped carpus length (CaL), cheliped propodus length (PrL) and the length of appendix masculina (AML) of the shrimp were measured. The relationships that best demonstrated the changes in allometric coefficient between demographic categories were AML vs. CL for males, and PlL vs. CL for females. The estimated CL for morphological sexual maturity in males was 8.51 mm and 9.30 in females. Our results showed the appendix masculine and the second pleuron were secondary sexual characteristics that play roles in reaching the morphological sexual maturity necessary for reproductive success and to assure the life cycle of this species. |
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Keywords: | Crustacea allometry reproduction secondary sexual characteristics development Rio de Janeiro |
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