Contribution to the Biology of the Deep-Sea Swimming Crab Bathynectes Maravigna (prestandrea, 1839) (decapoda, Pontunidae) in Waters of the Canary Islands (central-East Atlantic)

Two exploratory trap fishing surveys were carried out from February to April, and from June to July 2003, respectively, at depths ranging between 200 and 1200 m, with the objective to evaluate deep fishery resources of the Canary Archipelago. Bathynectes maravigna was relatively frequent in catches, as an indication of its abundance in deep waters off the Archipelago (0.15 gram per fishing hour; SD = 0.45). This crab was captured in the whole range of depths sampled, although its highest biomass was found between 600 and 1000 m (0.22 gram per fishing hour; SD = 0.55), on muddy-rocky bottoms. There were no significant differences in the average length and weight between males and females, although significant differences were observed in average length and weight according to the island of origin and date of fishing. The b parameter of the length-weight relationship describes a negative allometric growth pattern.