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PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XXI, October 1967 
this species in his monograph on the oxy- 
cephalids. 
Oxycephalus clausi Bovallius 
Only two individuals of this species were 
taken (September: female, 30 mm; and Jan- 
uary: female, 25 mm). Neither of these speci- 
mens was carrying ova or young. Again, Fage 
(I960) discussed the reproductive biology of 
O. clausi. 
Streetsia challengeri Stebbing 
This species was by far the most common 
oxycephalid taken during this study; 67 speci- 
mens were collected from pint aliquots. Table 6 
gives information regarding breeding activity. 
Egg production was highest in the spring, at 
which time the ratio of females to males was 
lowest. Young were most prevalent in the brood 
pouches during the fall. They were probably 
released from the parents in late fall and early 
winter, as indicated by a drop in mean size 
during the fall. The winter size data do not 
correlate with the suggested time of the en- 
trance of young into the adult population. Fage 
(I960) reviewed some of the reproductive 
biology of this species. 
Family hyperiidae 
Hyperia spinigera Bovallius 
It has been suggested by Shoemaker (1945) 
that Hyperia spinigera may be conspecific with 
H. galba. 
Only six specimens of this species, all males, 
were collected throughout this study. The 
months of capture and sizes of individuals were 
as follows: August: 1 male (5 mm); Septem- 
ber: 1 male (4 mm); October: 3 males (4,5, 
15 mm); November: 1 male (4 mm). 
The presence of this species during only the 
late summer and early fall may have some bear- 
ing on the reproductive activity, but paucity of 
individuals prevents speculation. 
Hyperia bengalensis (Giles) 
A total of 52 individuals was sorted from 
pint aliquots. Specimens were captured only 
during the months of August through Novem- 
ber. During this time the mean size of the 
female population increased from 2 mm to 2.8 
mm, and the size range for females increased 
from 2-2.4 mm to 1.7— 3-5 mm. Males were 
taken only in September, October, and Novem- 
ber, and were consistently larger than the 
females displaying a mean size of 33 mm and 
a size range of from 3 to 4 mm. The ratios of 
females to males for these three months were 
5/1, 15/1, and 3/1, respectively. 
Egg production was highest in September, 
with about 40% of the females being gravid; 
values of less than 20% were noted for the 
other three months. The percentages of females 
carrying young in the brood pouches increased 
throughout the four months during which 
H. bengalensis was captured (August, 0%; 
September, 10%; October, 15%; November, 
45%). 
The reasons underlying the odd and sudden 
appearance and disappearance of this species 
from the local population are unclear and con- 
sequently the breeding cycle is incomplete. 
Hyperia galba (Montague) 
A total of 178 specimens was collected from 
pint aliquots. Table 7 summarizes the reproduc- 
TABLE 6 
Seasonal Variation in the Percentages of Mature Females Carrying Ova (O) and Young 
(Y), Mean Size of Females (MSf) and Males (MSm), Size Range of Females (SRf), and 
Males (SRm), Female/Male Ratio (f/m), and Average Number per Trawl Hour 
(n/th) for Streetsia challengeri 
MSf MSm SRf SRm 
season O Y (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) f/m n/th 
Summer 20% 30% 21.5 22 13-27 20-24 8/1 2 
Fall 0% 40% 14 15.5 7.5-26 14-17 11/1 2 
Winter 0% 0% 22 13 21-22.5 11.5-14 2/1 less than 1 
Spring 51% 0% 19 14 12-23 11.5-16 3/1 2 
