MORPHOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CONVERSION FACTORS IN SPINY LOBSTER PANULIRUS POLYPHAGUS (HERBST) FROM THE NORTHWEST COAST OF INDIA

Conversion factors have been determined for 5 sets of variables, namely carapace length and total length, abdominal weight and total weight, total length and total weight, total length and abdominal weight and carapace length and abdominal weight. The relationship between the first 2. sets of variables was found to be linear and the other 3 sets, exponential. Carapace is longer in male than in female. The female has a shorter carapace and hence a longer as well as heavier abdomen, whereas the total weight is more in male than in female. The morphological relationships between the variables total length and carapace length and total weight and abdominal weight are largely used for the applied purposes. The measure of carapace length is used by some workers and total length by others in biological studies, making it difficult to compare the results. Hence, an attempt is made in this note to bring out suitable conversion factors for the different morphological relationships of Panulirus polyphagus. Specimens of P. polyphagus were obtained from the trawler landings a