WENNER BIOLOGY OF DEEP-SEA I,OBSTERS 

 A 



Figure 3. — Cephalothoracic position and relative size of the ovary of Polychelidae during 

 ovarian development stages (dorsal view); A. Immature; B. Resting; C. Intermediate; D. Ripen- 

 ing; E. Gravid; and F. Spent. OV = ovary; DG = digestive gland; M = muscle; and S = stomach. 



every month of collection (Table 6). Individuals 

 with advanced eyed (stages C-C + ) eggs and egg 

 remnants (stage D), indicative of imminent or re- 

 cent hatching, were also collected each month. 

 Similarly, there were gravid and ripening females 

 and spent ovigerous females present throughout 

 the year (Figure 6), but there was no indication 

 that seasonal peaks in oviposition occurred. 



The estimated number of eggs on the pleopods 

 ranged from 1,015 to 7,580 (mean = 3,392. /; = 10) 

 with a mean diameter of 0.7 mm. There was no 

 apparent relation between body size and fecundity 

 for 10 individuals examined. 



I examined 127 males (17-36 mm SCL) for pres- 

 ence of external (protruding from gonopores) and 

 internal ( present in vas deferens ) spermatophores. 



T.ABLE 6. — Summary of data on reproductively mature individuals and advanced egg development mSterenmastis nana and.S Miilpta 



by month of collection. 



Item 



September 



January 



April 



May-June 



July 



ssssssssss, ss 



nana sculpta nana sculpla nana sculpla nana sculpla nana sculpta nana sculpta 



Males 



Sample size 



Percent total catch 



Percent witti spermatophores 

 exuding 

 Nonovigerous females 



Sample size 



Percent with spermatophores 

 attached 

 Ovigerous females: 



Sample size 



Percent of total females 



439 



