Observations on allometric growth and regeneration in palinurid lobsters

During routine examination of palinurid lobsters from Mandapam a few large male specimens of Panulirus ornatus (Fabricius), P. versicolor (Latr.) and P. homarus (Linn.) were found to show a striking phenomenon of allometric growth of peraeopods il and III. In these male specimens due to the increased lengthening of the merii and propodii considerable difference in the length of the 2nd and 3rd peraeopods from that of the 1st and 4th was noticed. There is not much difference in the length of peraeopods of 2nd and 3rd legs in females of corresponding size