Aspects of Biology of the Freshwater Crab

The research carried out and presented in this book is aimed at a better understanding of the population and reproductive biology of an edible freshwater crab, Travancoriana schirnerae, commonly distributed in the wetlands of Wayanad, Kerala, India. This book contains a total of six chapters. Chapter one provides a comprehensive investigation on aspects of population biology such as sexual dimorphism and sex ratio. The second chapter analyzes the population size frequency distribution and colour pattern. Chapter three portrays growth and moult pattern; details the interrelationships between morphometric characters, growth and moult pattern of juveniles and adults. Chapter four delves into the key parameters of reproductive biology: mating pattern, gonadosomatic index, vas deferens factor, breeding period and fecundity. Chapters five and six evaluate the nutritional status of claw and body meat of adult male and female.