Abstract
The changes of the cheliped following the growth of the carapace were studied on the Carcinoplax longimanus (DE HAAN) which were collected by trawlnets and dredges in the East China Sea during these twelve years from October 1953 to July 1964, and the following results were obtained. The dimensions measured for the present study are shown in Fig. 1. Carapace length: Length from the frontal margin to the posterior margin of the carapace. Carapace width: Width from the left margin to the right margin of the carapace. Palm length: Length from the tip of the immovable finger of the cheliped to the boundary between the cheliped and the carpus. Merus length: Length from the boundary between the carpus and the merus to the boundary between the merus and the ischium. 1) The relative growth of the width of the carapace on the length of the carapace is shown in Fig. 4 (female) and Fig. 5 (male). A linear regression is fit in female, but an inflection is shown at about 50mm in carapace length in male. 2) The relative growth of the length of the merus of the cheliped on the length of the palm represents good fit to linear regression in female (Fig. 6) and male (Fig. 7). 3) The relative growth of the length of the palm and the merus of the cheliped on the length of the carapace is shown as linear regression in female (Figs. 8 and 10), but a distinct inflection is noted at about 40 to 45mm in carapace length in male (Figs. 9 and 11). 4) Rapid growth of the cheliped after the growth inflection at about 40 to 45mm in carapace length in male seems to be related with the increasing of the copulation function.
