Serum protein concentration and somatic index in relation to morphometric maturity for male snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio (O. Fabricius, 1788) in the Baie des Chaleurs, Canada (Decapoda, Brachyura)
Cormier, R.J.; Comeau, M.; Lanteigne, M.
Crustaceana (Leiden) 72(5): 497-506
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0011-216X DOI: 10.2307/20106149
Accession: 021739886
The serum protein concentrations of juvenile and mature male snow crabs, Chionoecetes opilio, were measured using a refractometer. The somatic indices of juvenile and mature male snow crab were calculated using the weight of the dry flesh of the chelae versus its wet weight. Results indicate that juvenile male snow crab have significantly higher serum protein concentrations and significantly lower somatic indices than their mature counterparts. These observations are attributed to basic physiological differences that could be explained by a terminal moult.