OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the comparison between carapace width and growth band count of S. olivacea in Malaysia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples were collected from Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia from February until August, 2016. Samples were categorized based on their morphological measurements. The mesocardiac and zygocardiac ossicles in the gastric mill of S. olivacea was dissected out and preserved in solutions and underwent a cross sectioning process. A total of 76 of wild S. olivacea ranging from 6.56 to 12.84 cm in carapace width were analysed. The growth band counts were examined for each individual and ranging from 1 to 3 band counts.
RESULTS: A positive linear relation was observed between CW and GBC with r2 = 0.5178, p<0.01. Overall, there was a strong, positive correlation between CW and GBC. Increase in CW were correlated with increases in GBC respectively for this species.
CONCLUSION: Therefore, the carapace width, growth band counts and body weight can be used to improve data on growth, recruitment, maturation and mortality. Thus, this study would able to improve new ageing technique and contribute greatly to improve the conservation and management of S. olivacea in Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thus, crab samples for this study were sampled from the wild habitat at Setiu wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia. A total of 100 samples of with the same size (80±5 mm carapace width) were sampled and the eyestalk dissected for LF extraction. The determination of LF sites and levels in the eyestalks organ was taken from the area between the distal tangential layer (DTL) and proximal tangential layer (PTL). The lower part of the eyestalk was taken from the PTL until the end of the eyestalk.
RESULTS: The upper part of the crab's eyestalk was higher in the males crabs compared to the females crabs. LF index also shown that the upper part of crab's eyestalk have higher concentration compared to the lower part.
CONCLUSION: The left crab's eyestalk had the higher LF index especially in males compared to females but the total concentration was higher in female crabs. Knowing which part has highly dense accumulation of LF helps in LF detection of the tissue and further helps for age determination for this species.