THE MORFOMETRICS CHARACTERICS AND CONDITION INDEX OF AUSTROPOTAMOBIUS PALLIPES IN THE NERETVA RIVER BASIN

UDK 595.384.1:591.134(282.249 Neretva) Specimens of white-clawed crayfish have been cought during from May to August 2011. The specimens were fished out from the tributaries of the river Neretva: Neretvica, Sistica and Kraljuscica. The study was done on 100 m of waterstream, where an unequal numbers of individuals was determined. 31 individuals was found in river Neretvica, 10 individuals in river Sistica and 4 in river Kraljuscica. Different hydromorphological characteristics of the waterstream have largely contributed to the different population abundance of this crayfish. Morphometric analysis included six parameters: (TL) total length [cm], (W) weight (gr), (ARL) carapace length [cm], (CPW) carapace width [cm], (ROL) rostrum length [cm], (ROW) rostrum width [cm], (CLL) claws length [cm] and (TEL) tail length [cm]. Total body length of the white- clawed crayfish varied from 4.3 to 8. 6cm, while the individual with maximum length was found in river Neretvica. Weight of the individuals varied from 5g to 26g. Weight is the parameter with the highest coefficient of variation where differences in weight were found in the individuals of equal length. According to the shape (length and width) of the rostrum, crayfish from river Neretvica and Kraljuscica had higher similarity than recripocally than with the individuals cought in river Sistica (isosceles triangle). The connection between body length and carapax width had been determined by linear regression, as well as the connection between body length and claws length. Condition index values are higher in males than in females and the male domination was express in all three watercourses, as well as in the overall sample (28males and 17 females).