RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BODY-WEIGHT AND THE CARAPACE WIDTH OF THE SWIMMING CRAB PORTUNUS-SPINIMANUS LATREILLE, 1819 (DECAPODA, PORTUNIDAE)

This work aimed to analyse the relationships between the weight and th e carapace width of the swimming crab Portunus spinimanus Latreille, 1 819. For this purpose 740 specimens obtained by trawl from Ubatuba reg ion, Brazil (23 degrees 26'S 45 degrees 03'W) were studied. The carapa ce width (LC), except the lateral spines, the body weight (PT) and the chelipeds weight (PQ) were measured and the plottings were visually a nalysed. After this the relationships PT x LC and PQ x LC were adjuste d to a power function and the allometric coefficients determined. The relative growth of PT x LC in P. spinimanus can be represented by PT = 10(-4) LC(3,33) for males and PT = 10(-4) LC(3,13) for females. The r egression PQ in function of LC can be represented bu PQ = 4x10(-6) LC( 3,69) for males and PQ = 2x10(-5) LC(3,24) for females. The results ob tained for this species compared with other portunid studies reveals t hat it presents a highest allometric coefficent evidencing a good fish ery resource.