Carapace width-weight relationship, age, growth and longevity of the mud crab Scylla olivacea (Herbst, 1796) in the Pichavaram mangroves, south-east India

The present study provides novel information on carapace width-weight (CWR) relationship and growth parameters of the mud crab Scylla olivacea (Herbst, 1796) inhabiting the Pichavaram mangroves, east coast of India based on length frequency data sets during June 2010 to May 2012. CWR revealed linear regression between carapace width and weight in both sexes, and overall CWR exponent (b) values acquired for males and females are 3.035 (r 2 = 0.962) and 2.925 (r 2 = 0.933) respectively. The growth parameters, CW∞, K and t o derived for males and females were 148.05, 0.762 year−1 and −0.637 and 138.80 mm, 0.856 year−1 and −0.681 respectively. The growth of S. olivacea was assessed through various methods in such a way that the outcome of one method functions as a rider, check and control over the other.