Reproductive system and size maturity of the paddle crab Ovalipes trimaculatus (Brachyura: Portunidae) along the Argentine coast

Abstract

A B S T R A C TOvalipes trimaculatus (de Haan, 1833) is a commercial species captured in the Mar del Plata coast, Argentina. However, no studies were conducted in order to study its population features neither its reproductive biology. The morphometric and physiological maturity of both sexes, the histology of the female seminal receptacle and ovary, and the ultrastructure of the male gonopods were studied in the present paper. In females, morphometric maturity (44.6 mm of carapace width, CW) was acquired prior to physiological maturity (54.6 mm CW). By contrast, in males, physiological maturity (46.6 mm CW) was acquired prior to morphometric maturity (52.3 mm CW). The ovary is connected to the dorsal part of the seminal receptacle. Neither Spermatophores, nor sperm packets were found inside the seminal receptacle; instead free spermatozoids were observed indicating that sperm from different males is probably mixed favoring sperm competition. The ultrastructure of the male gonopods was similar to the described for other Brachyura. Different types of setae and the presence of internal rosette glands were described and probable functions were suggested.

Acoustic signals and behaviour of Ovalipes trimaculatus in the context of reproduction

“…Moreover, males produced a sound with a slightly larger bandwidth with respect to females. Although there are exceptions, crustacean males generally grow faster and larger than females (Aiken 1980), and these growth differences are particularly evident in the secondary sexual characters such as the chelae, abdomen and first pleopods (Hartnoll 1974, Vallina et al 2014. In this genus, stridulation is hypothesized to occur by rubbing the appendages against the carapace (Stephenson 1969).…”

Embryonic development of the southern surf crab <em>Ovalipes trimaculatus</em> (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunoidea)

“…Although there is detailed information on most stages of the O. trimaculatus life cycle (Fenucci and Boschi 1975, Dellatorre et al 2014, Vallina et al 2014, there is still a knowledge gap on the phase of embryonic development. The aim of this work is to characterize the morphological changes during embryogenesis, as well as the duration of the process and the embryonic survival.…”

Morphology and development of the male reproductive tract in Callinectes danae (Crustacea: Brachyura)

“…() and Vallina et al. (). The decrease in diameter may be associated with decreased secretory activity.…”

“…The morphology of the male reproductive system of Brachyura has been described for several species: Libinia emarginata Leach, 1815 (Hinsch & Walker, ) , Chionoecetes opilio (O. Fabricius, 1788) (Benhalima & Moriyasu, ; Sainte‐Marie & Sainte‐Marie, ) , Telmessus cheiragonus (Tilesius, 1812) , Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille, 1803) , Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) , Eriphia verrucosa (Forskal, 1775) , Armases rubripes (Rathbun, 1897) , Maja brachydactyla Balss, 1922 , Libinia spinosa H. Milne Edwards, 1834 , Portunus pelagicus Rathbun, 1902, and Cardisoma Guanhumi (Latreille, 1828), Ovalipes trimaculatus (De Haan, 1833) and Eriocheir sinensis H. Milne Edwards, 1853 (Castilho et al., ; Erkan, Tunali, Balkis, & Oliveira, ; Garcia & Silva, ; Nagao & Munehara, ; Sal Moyano, Gavio, & Cuartas, ; Santos, Lima, Nascimento, Sales, & Oshiro, ; Shinozaki‐Mendes, Silva, & Hazin, ; Simeó, Ribes, & Rotllant, ; Stewart et al., ; Vallina, Sal Moyano, Cuartas, & Gavio, ; Wang, Sun, He, Li, & Wang, ; respectively). While there are important studies on the male reproductive system, the number of these studies is still much lower than those focused of the female reproductive system.…”

“…& Oliveira, 2009; Garcia & Silva, 2006;Nagao & Munehara, 2003;Sal Moyano, Gavio, & Cuartas, 2010;Santos, Lima, Nascimento, Sales, & Oshiro, 2009;Shinozaki-Mendes, Silva, & Hazin, 2012;Simeó, Ribes, & Rotllant, 2009;Stewart et al, 2010;Vallina, Sal Moyano, Cuartas, & Gavio, 2014;Wang, Sun, He, Li, & Wang, 2015;respectively). While there are important studies on the male reproductive system, the number of these studies is still much lower than those focused of the female reproductive system.…”