Proximate composition of fresh meat and exoskeleton of marine crab Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

Blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus is an economically valuable species found along the southeast coast of India. The present study examines the proximate composition analysis (total protein, carbohydrate, lipid, moisture and ash content) of fresh meat found in body, claw, and leg and the exoskeleton (carapace) for male, female, berried crabs separately collected from Mimisal coast, Tamil Nadu, India. The meat yield was the highest in male body (12.13%) and lowest in berried leg (2.53%). The nutrients were generally found more in body meat followed by claw meat, and leg meat. Among the macronutrients, protein was found maximum in male body meat (47.05%) while lipid was in berried body meat (10.02%). Carbohydrates and ash were found maximum in female body meat (3.58% and 13.2% respectively). Moisture content was more in male body meat (80.5%). Similarly, in the exoskeleton carapace, protein was found more in male (10.41%) while lipids in berried crabs (7.20%). Ash and carbohydrate were more in female (3.1% and 2.06% respectively), while moisture was more in male (36.1%). There were significant differences among male, female and berried crabs in the proximate composition of fresh meat and exoskeleton. Hence, it may be concluded that in terms of nutritional value, male and female crabs may be considered more suitable than the berried for consumers.

Key words: Fresh meat, claw, exoskeleton, macronutrients, moisture, ash