Biological aspects of the blue swimming crab, Portunus segnis (Brachyura: Decapoda: Portunidae), inhabiting the Suez Canal Lakes, Egypt

Abd-Allah Et Al., Arwa

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2022.265456

Biological aspects of the blue swimming crab, Portunus segnis (Brachyura: Decapoda: Portunidae), inhabiting the Suez Canal Lakes, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Arwa Abd-Allah et al.

10.21608/ejabf.2022.265456

Abstract

Portunus segnis (Forskål, 1775) is an economically important crab species in Egypt; however, its yields have decreased in recent years. In this study, the morphometric characteristics and organ indices were analyzed to obtain baseline information about the population structure and sexual maturity of this species. Specimens were monthly collected from Timsah and Bitter Lakes, along the Suez Canal. A 1.4: 1 and 0.9: 1 male: female sex ratio was recorded in the Timsah and Bitter Lakes, respectively. Fifty percent of females were mature at a CW of 79 and 87 mm in Timsah and Bitter Lakes, respectively. Spawning peaked in the lakes under study in September (32%) and July (25%), respectively, while the smallest and largest berried female crabs were 73.5 mm CW, 119.3 mm CW and 86 mm CW, 121.9 mm CW in Timsah and Bitter Lakes, respectively. The gathered information is expected to help improve the sustainability of this crab fishery in the Suez Canal area.

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