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Molt frequency and growth rate of Adriatic spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas) maintained in controled conditions

During period of two years growth rate and molt frequency of sub-adult Adriatic spiny lobsters (Palinurus elephas) maintained in controlled condition were recorded. All specimens (154) in experiment showed rhythmic molt cycle (Table 1) in a manner that majority of tested lobsters (90, 4 %) have molt twice a year – in spring and autumn period. No significant difference in growth rate and molt rhythm between specimens of opposite sex was observed before first sexual maturity, but sexually matured females showed lower growth rate than sexually matured males. During each molt length growth of sub-adult lobsters was in average 2.0 to 2.5 cm, what imply that average yearly growth rate was between 4 and 5 cm. According to fact that first sexual maturity of spiny lobsters in Adriatic was recorded at total length (TL) of 21 cm minimum, it is obvious that Adriatic spiny lobsters need at least three years to reach the length of first sexual maturity. All studied lobsters manifested two types of sexual maturity – physiological and functional, and in most specimens (87, 5%) physiological sexual maturity (spring molt) has shown half a year earlier than functional sexual maturity (autumn molt).

Spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas); molt; growth rate

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