Age and growth of Carcinus aestuarii Nardo,1847 (Portunidae) and Maja squinado Herbst, 1788 (Majidae) in the Gulf of Gabes, Southeastern Tunisia, Central Mediterranean

Abstract

The Mediterranean green crab, Carcinus aestuarii Nardo, 1847 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae), and the spider crab Maja squinado (Herbst) are common inhabitant of the shallow waters in the Gulf of Gabes (southern Tunisia, central Mediterranean). 

The Von Bertalanffy growth parameters CW∞/CL∞, k and t₀ were estimated on the basis of Length-frequency modal progression analysis method. The values of CW∞ (mm), K (year^-1) and t₀ (year) would be, respectively, 95.61, 0.84 and -0.104 for males; 73.92, 1.11 and -0.149 for females in Carcinus aestuarii and, CL∞ (mm), K (year^-1) and t0 (year) would be, respectively, 172.46, 0.68 and -0.147 for males; 147.05, 0.6 and -0.175 for females in Maja squinado.

These results were obtained, as the first attempt to study age and growth of these two crustaceans which will be of a great use for their eventual stock assessment studies.