GONAD MATURITY LEVEL OF VARUNA LITTERATA IN THE KALIMIRENG RIVER ESTUARY OF MANYAR GRESIK DISTRICT, EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

Abstract

Varuna litterata is one of the crabs belonging to the genus Varuna and in the family Varunidae. The capture of V. litterata is used to provide a source of animal protein for the surrounding community, in addition to its PUFA and chromium content which are beneficial for health. This study aimed to determine the level of gonad maturity of V. litterata. The study was conducted by taking samples at the mouth of the Kalimireng River once every two weeks at high tide from June to August 2021 with fishing gear in the form of a plugged net that was plugged in randomly. The results showed that the carapace width in males ranged from 20 to 42 mm, while the carapace width in females ranged from 23 to 39 mm. The sex ratio in this study was 2.05. The results of maturity gonad observations showed that there was no V. litterata that was undergoing gonad maturity at stage IV. It is still necessary to see the relationship between carapace width, claw length and gonad maturity, and it is necessary to observe gonadal changes related to gonadal maturity.

Keywords

• v. litterata
• gonad maturity
• sex ratio