Some biological features of the moon crab Matuta victor (Fabricius, 1781) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Matutidae) in Adana Karataş coasts

With this research, the presence and some biological characteristics of the Lessepsian crab, the Moon Crab Matuta victor, which has just entered the waters of our region, were investigated for the first time. The study was carried out seasonally and in a sandy area at 0.5-3 m depths between 2020-2021. A total of 364 individuals were obtained, 93 females and 27 of them with eggs and 270 males. During the whole study, the highest individual was caught in the spring with 146 individuals. It was calculated that female individuals ranged in carapace width of 27.49-49.30 mm and mean 41.55±4.01 mm. It was measured between 49.15±8.97 mm and 21.28-66.70 mm in male individuals. Mean Karapas length measurements in females and males, respectively; 26.83±2.52 mm and 32.71±5.85; total weights were calculated as 8.79±5.45g and 16.27±7.30. 1 juvenile with 26.95 mm carapace width was caught in summer. The sex ratio was calculated as 2.16:1 (Male: Female). During the whole study, male individuals were caught more in each season (p<0.05). When the morphometric relationships calculated in female, male and all individuals were examined, negative allometric growth was detected. In the range of carapace width, the highest number of individuals are in males and females, respectively; 56.0-60.9 mm and 46.0-50.9 mm were observed. Egg-laying females were obtained in other seasons except winter. Egg productivity of females with carapace widths of 35.31-48.84 mm and an average of 41.97±3.29 mm was calculated as 36822.04±29745.9 eggs. Key Words: Brachyura, Matuta victor, Lessepsian, Karataş Coast, Allometry Growth, Sex Ratio, Fecondite