The Morphometric Variations of Freshwater Crab Sodhiana iranica from Southern Iran

Morphometric characters are important to estimate the population of crustacean species. In the present study, relationships between various morphometric characters of the freshwater crab Sodhiana iranica was studied at Eelood freshwater spring of southern Iran. Crabs were collected randomly from April 2012 to April 2013 bimonthly. A total of 69 (43.67%) females and 89 (56.32%) males were collected. Comparison of mean carapace width and total weight in both sexes showed no significant differences. The CL– CW relationship was CW=1.14 (CL) +1.23 for females, and CW=1.16(CL) +2.11 for males. The CW– TW relationship was TW=0.0003(CW) 3.01 for females, and TW=0.0003(CW) 2.98 for males. The CL– TW relationship was TW=0.0009(CL) 2.81 for females, and TW=0.0033(CL) 2.45 for males. The relationship between carapace width and weight for both sexes of S. iranica showed growth of crab is isometric. The result of this study showed that the morphometric relationships are essential for effective protecting of this crab in freshwater spring of Eelood area.