Relationship between length-weight, total length-carapace length and total length-abdominal length and relative condition factor in the deep water mud shrimp Solenocera melantho (de Man, 1907) off Visakhapatnam coast.

The relationship between length-weight, the total length-carapace length and total length-abdominal length and relative condition factor of the deep water mud shrimp S. melantho were studied for a period of two years (Nov’2004 – Oct’2006). In length – weight the estimated slope value (b) for male was found to be 2.7377, for female 2.9569 and for sexes combined was 3.1962. The regression equations calculated was W = 0.000010931 L 2.7377 (r=0.87) for male, was W = 0.000012419 L 2.9569 (r=0.94) for female and for sexes combined was W = 0.000012017 L 3.1962 (r=0.94). The regression equations for total length-carapace length relationship of males, females and sexes combined were CL = -0.6003 + 1.0117 TL (r = 0.93), CL = -0.8592 + 1.1567 TL (r = 0.96) and CL = -1.0058 + 1.2276 TL (r = 0.86) respectively. The regression equations for the total length – abdominal length relationship for male was AL = -0.1244 + 0.9953 TL (r = 0.99), for female was AL = -0.0253 + 0.9398 TL (r = 0.99) and for sexes combined was AL = 0.0288 + 0.9137 TL (r = 0.98). Analysis of covariance confirmed significant difference between males and females in the regression coefficients between length - weight, total length - carapace length and total length-abdominal length. The relative condition factor in males and females of S. melantho was highest in the size groups of 101-105 mm and 106-110 mm respectively indicating the maturity of both the sexes. In both the sexes combined the peak value is found at 56-60mm. Peak values were observed in March and July for males and October for females and January and August for sexes combined.