Allometric growth and condition factor of West African shrimp, Macrobrachium vollenhovenii (Herklots, 1857), in the rivers of Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

The length–length and length–weight relationships and condition factor for Macrobrachium vollenhovenii are described using samples collected from the rivers of Côte d’Ivoire. The maximum carapace lengths (CLs) registered for males and females were 63.00 and 53.60 mm, respectively. All relationships between body length and CL and weight and CL were found to be highly significant, with r2 > 0.76 (P < 0.001). In the length–length relation, the allometry coefficient (b) ranged from 0.75 to 1.46 and varied according to the considered length and groups. The value of b of the length–weight relationship varied from 2.55 to 3.30. Although the three allometry types were observed, overall, M. vollenhovenii exhibited negative allometry. The condition factor (K) did not significantly vary among males and females. The K value decreased from the eastern to western Côte d’Ivoire. The present study presents, for the first time, results on the allometric growth and condition factors of M. vollenhovenii from the rivers of Côte d’Ivoire. Further, a biological database is established for use by fishery managers and in further research on the ecology, reproductive biology and aquaculture potentialities of this species.