Morphometric relationship and growth of the 'ridge back shrimp' Solanocera choprai (Decapoda/Crustacea) from MangaIore (southwest coast of India)

Abstract

'Ridge back shrimp', Solerwcem chopmi, caught from a deprh of 70 to 100 m off Mangalore, has been contributing substantially to the commercial fishery of the coast from 1993 onwards. During 2002, the species formed > 50% of the total shrimp landing of Mangalore fisheries hahour (2746 t). Since it is a non-conventional species to commercial fishery, the detailed information ahut the biology and population characteristics of the species is qorted for the fmt time. The present paper deals with the motphomettic relationship like Iem-weight relationship and mapace length-total length relationship of the species which will be useful in studying the population dynamics of the species. The life span of S. chopmi is about 30 months and males and females attain a total length of 66 mm and 83 mrn at the end of 12 months, 88 mm and 109 mrn at the end of 24 months cespectively. The results of the study will help in formulation of strategies for the management of this resource in terms of regulation of mah size and fishing pressure.