Body components indices variations in European sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1871) in Antalya

Abstract

The edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus is the most common echinoid species in sublittoral habitats in the Mediterranean Sea. Biometric parameters (spiny test diameter, spiny test length, test diameter, test length and weight) were measured on sea urchins collected from the coast of Antalya. All sea urchins were dissected and indices of gonad and body components were calculated using wet and dry index method. The results of the study showed that mean test diameters of sea urchins were found 72.47±0.84 mm with spines, 45.62±0.80 mm without spines. The body wet weight was between 33.68 and 57.81 g. The gonad lops lengths varied between 19.73 mm and 23.31 mm amongst the total number of echinoids samples. It was determined that total weight of P. lividus consisted of 21.69% test, 25.71% perivisceral liquid, 9.17% gut, 4.12% lantern and 5.29% gonad.