The ecology of the prawn Palaemonetes carteri Gordon, 1935(Decapoda: Palaemonidae) was studied through field collections realized in Central Amazon, in lhe vicinities of Manaus. P. carteri inhabits the submerged litter of small forest streams submitted to annual flooding. From January 1989 to May 1990, 4,441 individuals were found. Reproductive strategy, some demographic traits and sex ratio fluctuations were investigated. P. carteri showed sexual dimorphism in size, females being bigger than males. The reproductive period was restricted to rising and high waters. Females carried 5 to 39 large eggs. There was no significant correlation between clutch size and females carapace length. The sex ratio of adults was ca 0.60 without significant seazonal variations.
Palaemonetes carteri; ecology; reproduction; Central Amazon; Palaemonidae