The morphometric variability of the mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) from Banyuasin estuarine of South Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

The allometric analysis was applied to record the morphometric variability in different sex of the mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) collected from Banyuasin estuarine of South Sumatra, Indonesia during July 2019. The body parameter measurement of body weight (BW), total length (TL), prosoma width (PW), carapace length (CL), and telson length (TL) were recorded then pooled refer to the sex. The differences in each body parameter between the males and females were observed through the Student's t-test. The length/width-weight relationship for both sexes was analyzed using the power equations while the width/length-length relationship was analyzed using the linear equations. The Student’s t-test was used to determine significant differences from the isometric value. The females of C. rotundicauda were significantly heavier and larger in size than males except for telson length (p < 0.05). Both sexes revealed a negative allometric growth for the TL/CL-BW relationships while the males indicated a negative allometric growth but the females indicated an isometric growth for the PW-BW relationships. Both sexes also indicated the isometric growth for the CL-PW relationship. The TL-PW/TEL relationship also revealed a negative allometric growth for both sexes. The study results were expected to be used as baseline data for the horseshoe crab management plan and action.