Abstract:
Freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii dacqueti is one of the most economically
important crustacean species cultured within its’ natural distribution and beyond. This
study was conducted to estimate the sexual dimorphic characters and their relative growth
pattern using two meristic and fourteen morphometric characters excluding periopods.
Thirty-two individuals for each sex were selected from four populations. According to the
results males showed higher growth rates for all morphometric parameters. Analysis based
on the relative growth equation for crustaceans (Y = bXa) revealed that five morphometric
characters that are relevant to the abdomen and first and second pleopods are sexually
dimorphic (P< 0.05). All derived allometric coefficients were positive except the
relationship between log carapace length and log exopod length of l sf pleuron of females.
Meristic characteristics did not show significant difference between two sexes. The
importance of identification of sexual dimorphic characters of M. r. dacqueti in
aquaculture programs and suggestions for further studies are discussed.
