摘要
The growth, reproductive properties and the variations in total lipids and fatty acids in the gonads and muscle tissue of the mantis shrimp Squilla mantis （Crustacea： Stomatopoda） caught from the gulf of Gabes in Tunisia were studied by sampling carried out between Jan. 2005 and Dec. 2006 to elucidate the importance of these components during sexual maturation. A total of 16,569 specimens were examined. The sex of this species was determined macroscopically and the proportion of females （47.07%） was significantly lower than that of males （52.93%） with a ratio of 1 ：l. 12 （male^female）. The mean total lengths （TL） of the male and female individuals were 142.02 ~： 22.76 mm and 141.45 ＋ 24.37 mm, respectively. Length-weight （TL-W） relationship was estimated as W = 7 ~ l06 TL3 o644 for females and W = 4 ~ 10＂6 TL320o7 for males, being altometrically positive for both sexes. The reproductive season, evaluated from the gonado-somatic index （GS1）, extended from Dec. to July, with a peak in Feb.. The smallest mature female was 93 mm total length. Fifty percent of the females were mature at 147.19 mm total length. The levels of lipid displayed pronounced seasonal fluctuations with the highest value in Feb. and the lowest value in Oct.. Major fatty acids in both gonads and muscle tissue （female and male） were C 14：0, C 16：0, C 18：0, C 18： I n-9, C 18：2n-6, C 18：3n-3, C20：4n-6, C20：5n-3 and C22：6n-3. Significant increases in the levels of saturated and poly-unsaturated fatty acids were observed in gonads. The levels of n-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids （PUFA）, particularly C20：5n-3, decreased in gonads as ovarian development proceeded. Docosahexaenoic acid （DHA）, linoleic acid （LA） and eicosapentaenoic acid （EPA） were the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acids （PUFAs） in the muscle tissue for both male and female. The highest percentages for EPA and DHA were found in winter and summer season for Squilla mantis in the Gulf of Gabes. The n-3/n-6 ratio fatty acids ratio in Squilla mantis can be significantly influenced by spawning and season. It was conchtded that the mantis shrimp is a healthy item in the human diet during the winter and summer period when balanced n-3/n-6 ratios and EPA and DHA levels are considered.
