FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 85, NO. 3 



cell. In the larger oocytes, cytoplasmic vitellin 

 globules indicative of vitellogenesis are pre- 

 sent. 



The intermediate stage ovary is yellow in color, 

 has more pronounced lobation, and is larger than 

 the early stage ovary. The diameter of oocytes 

 ranged from 112 to 175 ixm with a mean diameter 

 of 145 |xm. Most oocytes were undergoing vitello- 

 genesis in this stage (Fig. 3B). 



As the ovary matures to the advanced stage, 

 the ovarian lobes become enlarged and the color 

 becomes light orange to orange-red in color. The 

 anterior portion of the ovary obscures the ante- 

 rior hepatopancreas from dorsal view. Oocytes 

 were 175-300 |j.m in diameter (y = 240 p.m) and 

 enlarge as vitellogenesis continues (Fig. 3C). 



The mature ovary, brown to purple in color, is 

 the dominant visible organ and obscures the hep- 

 atopancreas in dorsal view. Oocytes are filled 

 with yolk globules and average 300-400 fjim in 

 diameter as vitellogenesis nears completion. 



Size at sexual maturity was difficult to assess 

 because of the small number of females collected. 

 Overlap existed in the size of female G. fenneri in 

 each stage of development.The carapace width of 

 females in early ovarian development ranged 

 from 85 to 116 mm (j = 104 mm, n = 27). Inter- 

 mediate ovaries were present in females measur- 

 ing 105-169 mm CW ^ = 127 mm, n = 13) while 

 advanced ovaries occurred at sizes from 110 to 

 136 mm CW (y = 123, n = 2). The 30 females with 

 mature ovaries ranged from 97 to 169 mm CW 

 (y = 141). 



Five vulval forms were identified among the 

 142 females examined. Most of the females had 

 immature vulvae (types a and b) suggesting that 

 these crabs had not mated. The observed ovarian 

 condition in a subsample (n = 26) of these fe- 

 males indicated that all had ovaries in an early 

 stage of development (Table 6). Only one female 

 (111 mm CW) with immature vulvae contained 

 sperm in the seminal receptacles, indicating cop- 

 ulation had occurred. Type c vulvae were noted on 

 two females, one with ovaries in early develop- 

 ment and lacking sperm in the seminal recepta- 

 cles while the other crab had mature ovaries and 

 sperm present. Type e and f vulvae were found on 

 the largest females collected, all of which had at 

 least intermediate stage ovaries. Eight of the 

 fourteen females with these vulval types whose 

 seminal receptacles were examined had been in- 

 seminated. 



Three male G. fenneri examined exhibited typi- 

 cal brachyuran reproductive morphology. The 



testes, which are dorsal to the hepatopancreas, 

 were tubular and highly lobate. The testicular 

 lobes, adjacent to the central seminiferous duct, 

 contained spermatocytes, spermatids, and sper- 

 matozoa, suggestive of asynchronous develop- 

 ment (Fig. 3D). In mature individuals, ripened 

 spermatozoa were found in the seminiferous duct. 

 Examination of the testes and vas deferentia by 

 SEM revealed germ cells at various stages of de- 

 velopment. Spermatids (Fig. 4A), surrounded by 

 supportive tissue, were composed of a central nu- 

 cleus framed in c3^oplasm. With spermiogenesis, 

 multiple projections or spikes form which are 

 characteristic of developed sperm (Fig. 4A). An- 

 other portion of the same testis yielded a more 

 advanced germ cell displaying well-defined cj^to- 

 plasmic spikes (Fig. 4B). A sagittal section 

 through the vas deferens revealed stellate sper- 

 matozoa (Fig. 4C), which had previously been em- 

 bedded in this complex of supportive tissue 

 (Fig. 4D). 



Table 6. — Incidence of vulval type (after 

 Haefner 1 977) in relation to carapace width and 

 gonadal condition of female Geryon fen- 

 neri. n = number of individuals examined. 



Molt Condition and Fouling 



Most (80%) of the 3,183 male and female 

 G. fenneri were in the intermolt stage. Less than 

 1% of the 3,041 male golden crab showed evidence 

 of having recently molted. The incidence of immi- 

 nent or recently molted female golden crab was 

 higher than that observed for males, with four 

 individuals classified as premolt (soft-old) and 

 two in the newly molted (soft-new) condition. 



Most (95%) of the 3,183 G. fenneri examined for 

 molt condition had blackened abraded areas on 

 the exoskeleton, indicative of damage by chiti- 

 nolytic bacteria. Exoskeleton damage was most 

 prevalent on individuals in the intermolt (75%) 

 and premolt (19%) condition. 



554 



