Male and female carapace shape differences in Liocarcinus depurator (Decapoda, Brachyura): An application of geometric morphometric analysis to crustaceans

5 pages, 4 figures, 1 tableLiocarcinus depurator is the most abundant brachyuran by-catch from commercial trawl fisheries along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Individuals of this species were collected from bottom trawl surveys covering the entire Iberian Mediterranean coast (from Gibraltar to Cape Creus), throughout the species' depth distribution. Geometric morphometric techniques were used to determine any differences in shape between male and female crabs. Differences in shape not observed with traditional morphometric techniques were detected. Females were found to have a larger base of the abdomen which is discussed in the context of reproductive successWe wish to thank all participants in cruise MEDITS_ES 2000 for their cooperation during the sampling survey. This piece of research was performed as a result of the MEDITS_ES EU projectPeer reviewe