BRIEF BIOLOGY OF Sudanonautes africanus (CRUSTACEA: BRACHYURA: EUBRACHYURA: POTAMOIDEA: PATAMONAUTIDAE: POTAMONAUTINAE), IN OSSIOMO RIVER, NIGER-DELTA, NIGERIA

The crab species africanus is a very notable detritivore, feeding on dead organic materials. It makes use of energy from the food and transfers it into the food chain trophic level, contributing to the gross ecosystem efficiency. However, their threat to human consumption and activities is gradually high in the sub-Sharan regions. There is a need to exploit alternative methods for traditional domestic cultivation to ensure food security. This study reported the length-weight relationship, condition factor, sex ratio, fecundity, and GSI (gonadosomatic index) of Sudanonautes africanus to prospect possible domestication. The result of the biomass of Sudanonautes africanus indicated a mean range of 52-180 g. A positive relationship existed between the weight and length relationship of the male and female crab with positive (+) allometry. There was no significant difference between both sexes. However, the fecundity estimates showed a ripe carapace full of bright red gonad materials (stage V) specifically in the female with eggs range of 2.56 to 8.95 g and GSI range of 11.28-41.44%; with the minimum (15) and maximum (27) fecundity at July and June 2016 respectively. It was concluded that the species could be domesticated via aquaculture because of its potentials to adapt to various feed substrate and water parameters.