A Contribution to the Study of Relative Growth of Parts in Inachus Dorsettensis

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Abstract
1. The relative growth-rate of the various parts of the body was investigated by analysis of linear measurements carried out on the carapace, appendages, and abdomen. 2. The results were as follows: (a) The chelar propus shows strong positive heterogony in the ♂ and very slight positive heterogony in the ♀. The ♂ chela shows dimorphism, the ♂♂ being differentiated into "high" and "low" forms and the dimorphism in all probability being due to the fact that the ♂ chela assumes the ♀ type of growth to a greater or less extent in the non-breeding season. (b) The pereiopods are more positively heterogonic in the ♂ than the ♀ and in both ♂ and ♀ there is a graded k series, but whereas in the ♂ k increases from P1-P4, in the ♀ the series is reversed k being greatest for P1. In both sexes the heterogony in the pereiopods is not so marked as that of the chelar propus. In the ♂ the pereiopods suffer an actual decrease in absolute size at the time when the relative growth-rate is least for the chelar propus and after this period never again attain to their original relative size.

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