Reproductive biology and relative growth in the spider crab Maja crispata (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae)

A series of life-history traits in the spider crab Maja crispata were studied on the island of Ischia (Italy) during four sampling periods in 1982: sex ratio, relative growth, sexual maturity, reproductive season, number of eggs per female, copulation and brood sequence. A total of 104 males and 86...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Carlos A. Carmona-Suárez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas 2003-03-01
Series:Scientia Marina
Subjects:
Online Access:http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/455
_version_ 1819095436276793344
author Carlos A. Carmona-Suárez
author_facet Carlos A. Carmona-Suárez
author_sort Carlos A. Carmona-Suárez
collection DOAJ
description A series of life-history traits in the spider crab Maja crispata were studied on the island of Ischia (Italy) during four sampling periods in 1982: sex ratio, relative growth, sexual maturity, reproductive season, number of eggs per female, copulation and brood sequence. A total of 104 males and 86 females were captured. Mature animals were present year around. The greatest relative abundance of mature animals in both sexes was found in the warmer season. Three postlarval growth stages were distinguishable in males: crabs with juvenile morphological characteristics and immature gonads (between 1.69 and 5.03 cm carapace length), crabs with juvenile morphological characteristics and mature gonads (between 3.59 and 6.11) and crabs with adult morphological characteristics and mature gonads (between 4.98 and 7.16). In females, only two postlarval stages were detected: juveniles (between 1.87 and 4.62) and adults (between 3.56 and 6.11). Mature females with full seminal receptacles were always present. Breeding period extends from May to September. Mean number of eggs was 11473 per female. Breeding sequences in two females kept in the laboratory varied between 5 and 7 broods per year, at intervals of between 21 and 32 days.
first_indexed 2024-12-21T23:43:16Z
format Article
id doaj.art-fb80b98b26934a88bef79164b4703769
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0214-8358
1886-8134
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-21T23:43:16Z
publishDate 2003-03-01
publisher Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
record_format Article
series Scientia Marina
spelling doaj.art-fb80b98b26934a88bef79164b47037692022-12-21T18:46:10ZengConsejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasScientia Marina0214-83581886-81342003-03-01671758010.3989/scimar.2003.67n175450Reproductive biology and relative growth in the spider crab Maja crispata (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae)Carlos A. Carmona-Suárez0Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC)A series of life-history traits in the spider crab Maja crispata were studied on the island of Ischia (Italy) during four sampling periods in 1982: sex ratio, relative growth, sexual maturity, reproductive season, number of eggs per female, copulation and brood sequence. A total of 104 males and 86 females were captured. Mature animals were present year around. The greatest relative abundance of mature animals in both sexes was found in the warmer season. Three postlarval growth stages were distinguishable in males: crabs with juvenile morphological characteristics and immature gonads (between 1.69 and 5.03 cm carapace length), crabs with juvenile morphological characteristics and mature gonads (between 3.59 and 6.11) and crabs with adult morphological characteristics and mature gonads (between 4.98 and 7.16). In females, only two postlarval stages were detected: juveniles (between 1.87 and 4.62) and adults (between 3.56 and 6.11). Mature females with full seminal receptacles were always present. Breeding period extends from May to September. Mean number of eggs was 11473 per female. Breeding sequences in two females kept in the laboratory varied between 5 and 7 broods per year, at intervals of between 21 and 32 days.http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/455crustaceabrachyuraspider crabsmaja crispatareproductionrelative growthmediterranean sea
spellingShingle Carlos A. Carmona-Suárez
Reproductive biology and relative growth in the spider crab Maja crispata (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae)
Scientia Marina
crustacea
brachyura
spider crabs
maja crispata
reproduction
relative growth
mediterranean sea
title Reproductive biology and relative growth in the spider crab Maja crispata (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae)
title_full Reproductive biology and relative growth in the spider crab Maja crispata (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae)
title_fullStr Reproductive biology and relative growth in the spider crab Maja crispata (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae)
title_full_unstemmed Reproductive biology and relative growth in the spider crab Maja crispata (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae)
title_short Reproductive biology and relative growth in the spider crab Maja crispata (Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae)
title_sort reproductive biology and relative growth in the spider crab maja crispata crustacea brachyura majidae
topic crustacea
brachyura
spider crabs
maja crispata
reproduction
relative growth
mediterranean sea
url http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/455
work_keys_str_mv AT carlosacarmonasuarez reproductivebiologyandrelativegrowthinthespidercrabmajacrispatacrustaceabrachyuramajidae