RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE WEIGHT AND CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF EXUVIA AND WHOLE-BODY OF THE BLACK TIGER PRAWN, PENAEUS-MONODON

The relationships between the weight and chemical composition of exuvi a and whole body of the prawn, Penaeus monodon, were investigated. Aft er molting, the data on exuvia and whole body were collected from 46 p rawns which were selected from two groups that had mean bodyweights of 4.4 +/- 2.5 g (x +/- s.d.) and 14.2 +/- 4.5 g. Wet and dry weight of whole body and exuvia were recorded. Regression calculations were perf ormed on wet exuvia weight-wet body weight, dry exuvia weight-dry body weight and dry exuvia weight-wet body weight. Significant relationshi ps (P < 0.01) were found in all cases with correlation coefficients of 0.75, 0.78 and 0.83, respectively. Data on chemical analysis showed t hat prawn exuvia had higher dry matter and ash content than whole praw n body. However, exuvia was lower in crude protein, ether extract and gross energy than whole prawn body. Glutamic acid and aspartic acid we re the main amino acids in both prawn body and exuvia. The third highe st amino acid concentration in prawn body and exuvia was leucine and g lycine, respectively.