BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CALLINECTES-ORNATUS ORDWAY, 1863 (DECAPODA, PORTUNIDAE) FROM THE MATINHOS REGION, PARANA STATE, BRAZIL

Males and females of C. ornatus Ordway, 1863, were collected in the Ma tinhos and Caioba region, on the coast of Parana State, from September 1991 to September 1992. Young specimens were more abundant than adult s, having integrated the population from May to September. There is a higher frequency of crabs in ecdysis in the summer and in the autumn. Males usually present a wider amplitude of width and weight variation than females, the cyclic fluctuations of the condition factor being in terpreted as part of the species vital cycle.