A Study of the Length -Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Callinectes amicola (De Rochebrune, 1883) from Okpoka Creek, Niger Delta, Nigeria

The length - weight relationship and condition factor of Callinectes amicola from Okpoka Creek in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria was studied for a period of one year. The exponent ʹbʹ values for all the sexes ranged from 2.336 and 2.56 (males), 2.367 and 2.536 (females) and 2.352 and 2.548 (combined sexes) respectively. Growth generally exhibited a negative allometry in all the sexes as shown by the mean exponents (b=2.448) for male, female (b=2.451), combined sex (b=2.449). Generally, the regression equations revealed high correlation in all the sexes as the correlation coefficient (r) values for male (0.951), female (0.971) and combined sexes (0.961) are very close to r = 1. The monthly K values of the males ranged from 0.0984 and 0.1503 (mean = 0.1214). The estimated K value for both sexes combined was 0.1260. Similarly, estimated K values for the females ranged from 0.0889 - 0.1524.The overall mean K value for the females was 0.1229. The minimum K value (0.0984) for the male was observed in February. The female C. amnicola minimum K value (0.0889) and Kmax (0.1580) values were obtained in November.