Some aspects of biology of Chiti kankra, Varuna litterata (Fabricius, 1798) from Sundarbans, West Bengal, India

Abstract

The length-weight relationship and condition factor of Chiti Kankra, Varuna litterata (Fabricius, 1798) was studied from Sundarbans part of West Bengal, India during August 2013 to September 2014. A total of 401 specimens of V. litterata (241 males and 160 females) were used for the study. The weight of female ranged between 2.22g to 22.53g whereas the weight of male ranged between 1.06g to 41.48g. The exponential values (b) for carapace length/width-weight relationship of male were 3.1367 and 3.2187 respectively which suggests positive allometric growth. But in females carapace length-weight relationship showed negative allometric growth (b=2.8058) and carapace width-weight relationship showed positive allometric growth (b=3.0450). The present study showed that the value of condition factor (K) of the studied male crab was 1.21, female 1.19 and for combined sexes 1.20. The sex ratio was 1 female: 1.50 male. The present study reveals that there was a strong co-relation between various morphometric characters viz. carapace length/width, abdomen length/width, chelar propodous length/height and weight.