Some changes in biochemical composition with sex and size of the crab,Sesarma boulengeri calman

Variations in the biochemical composition (protein and cholesterol) have been studied in the hepatopancreas and thoracic muscle of the crab, Sesarma boulengeri as a function of sex and size. Second degree polynomial regression equations are used in predictive fashion to quantify the biochemical constituents in relation to sex and size. The effect of size is expressed as a power function of body weight. A good agreement is found between the experimental data and the theoretical values based on the polynomial.There is a negative correlation between the mass of crab and the reduced mass of cholesterol and protein of the tissues in both sexes, signifying higher metabolic and growth rates in younger crabs. The cholesterol and protein contents are higher in the male indicating more growth than in the female. However, there is tendency of the muscle protein to increase in large sized female crabs suggesting that bigger sized female are structurally better suited than males.