Abstract--Distribution, abundance, and several population features were studied in Ensenada de La Vela (Venezuela) between 1993 and 1998 as a first step in the assessment of local fisheries of swimming crabs. Arenaeus cribrarius was the most abundant species at the marine foreshore. Callinectes danae prevailed at the estuarine location. Callinectes bocourti was the most abundant species at the offshore. Abundances of A. cribrarius and C. danae fluctuated widely and randomly. ...
<0.005). However, their abundance was independent of wave exposure, when only the stations in the marine biotope were considered (G=5.624; df=2, 0.05><0.001; df=148). Body size characteristics of C. bocourti are shown in Table 8. No differences in size between adult C. bocourti males and females from the estuarine site were found (t=0.187; P>
<0.005
C. danae 34:11 3.1:1 6.272 1 0.01>