Relative growth of the second pereiopod in Macrobrachium olfersi (Wiegmann, 1836) (Decapoda, Palaemonidae)

The heterochelous condition of the second pair of pereiopods in both male and female Macrobrachium olfersi from São Sebastião, Brazil, was investigated by means of quantitative analysis. A positive allometric growth of the propodus (length and height) was observed for males and females, either juven...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Crustaceana 2003-03, Vol.76 (3), p.363-376
Main Authors: Mossolin, Emerson, Bueno, Sérgio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adults
Claws
Female animals
Fresh water
Handedness
Linear regression
Male animals
Sexual dimorphism
Shrimp
Specimens
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Summary:The heterochelous condition of the second pair of pereiopods in both male and female Macrobrachium olfersi from São Sebastião, Brazil, was investigated by means of quantitative analysis. A positive allometric growth of the propodus (length and height) was observed for males and females, either juveniles or adults. The differential growth of both minor and major propodus is already initiated in the juvenile stage and proceeds towards adulthood without a distinct critical moult, and finally takes its full development in large adults, being especially more pronounced in large males. The differential growth of the larger second claw eventually leads to the development of the well known sexual dimorphism that characterizes this species. No preferential handedness, i.e., left or right, was discernible in either sex. /// La condition d'hétérochélie de la seconde paire de péréiopodes chez le mâle et la femelle de Macrobrachium olfersi de São Sebastião, Brésil, a été étudiée par analyse quantitative. Une croissance allométrique positive du propode (longueur et hauteur) a été observée chez les mâles et chez les femelles aussi bien jeunes qu'adultes. La croissance différentielle, à la fois des petits et grands propodes commence déjà au stade juvénile et se poursuit jusqu'au stade adulte sans mue critique distincte et prend son plein développement chez les adultes de grande taille, et de façon plus prononcé chez les grands mâles. La croissance différentielle de la plus grande des secondes pinces conduit finalement au développement du dimorphisme sexuel bien connu qui caractérise cette espèce. Quel que soit le sexe, on ne peut discerner ni droitier, ni gaucher chez les individus.
ISSN:0011-216X
1568-5403
0011-216X
DOI:10.1163/156854003765911748