A Histological Study of Ovarian Development in the Giant Red Shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Crustacea : Decapoda: Aristeidae)‎ from the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean)‎

الملخص EN

The reproductive features of the giant red shrimp, Aristaeomorpha foliacea, were investigated in the southern Tyrrhenian sea by experimental trawl sampling.

The annual length-frequency distribution showed a multimodal trend in females, ranging between 16 and 67 mm carapace length (CL), and a unimodal trend in males (18–45 mm CL).

Mature males occurred in different proportions all year round, while females displayed seasonal maturity (June—September), with a peak in July.

Six oocyte developmental stages were identified, the most advanced of which (Pv, postvitellogenic) had never been described before in this species.

Ovary development followed a group-synchronous pattern, with the yolked oocyte stock clearly separated from the reservoir of unyolked oocytes, suggesting that A.

foliacea is a total spawner, with determinate fecundity.

Based upon histological findings, a revision of macroscopic maturity staging employed in Mediterranean bottom trawl surveys (MEDITS) is proposed.