Reproductive cycle of Hexaplex princeps (Broderip, 1833) from one artisanal fishery at the southern coast of Mexico

The reproductive cycle of the gastropod Hexaplex princeps (Broderip, 1833) from Puerto Angel was studied through gonadal histology during two annual periods. The sex proportion for the total collected individuals was not statistically different from parity although most of the time the number of males was slightly larger than that of females, which only outnumbered males during the spawning season. The histological analysis of gonad sections permitted to establish six maturity stages for females: 1 Initial oogenesis, 2 Previtellogenic maturity, 3 Vitellogenic maturity, 4 Maturity, 5 Spawning, 6 Resting, and five for males: 1 Initial spermatogenesis, 2 Maturity, 3 Spawning, 4 Onset of the rest, 5 Resting). Monthly variations in the gonad maturation stages showed that H. princeps has an annual reproductive cycle with a long period of gonadal activity. The spawning season comprised from November to March (females) and from December to March (males) with peaks of activity for both sexes in January. Resting periods of females comprised from March to October and for males May and June. Thus the reproductive events were related to high Chlorophyll concentrations which in turn are due to the upwelling processes resulting from the winds during winter months (November to March). This study provides baseline information that may serve to establish measures for adequate exploitation and for aquaculture implementation of this species in the future. Normal 0 21 false false false ES-MX JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabla normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}