Studies On the Influence of Environmental Factors On Growth in the Crab, Ocypode Macrocera H. Milne Edwards

STUDIES ON THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON GROWTH IN THE CRAB, OCYPODE MACROCERA H. MILNE EDWARDS BY K. RANGA RAO Department of Zoology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-3, India The periodic shedding of the exoskeleton is the most important event associated with crustacean growth. According to Carlisle & Dohrn ( 195 3 ) there are four stages of growth in crustaceans: ( 1 ) proecdysis, the stage preceding ecdysis; (2) ecdysis, the actual process of shedding the old shell; (3) metecdysis, the stage after ecdysis, during which period the new shell is hardened and the animal returns to the normal condition