"Reproductive parameters and sexual maturity scale of Squilla mantis L., 1758 (crustacea: stomatopoda) in the North- Central Adriatic Sea (gsa17)

The spot-tail mantis shrimp, Squilla mantis (L., 1758), is very abundant in the northern and central Adriatic Sea (GSA 17), where it represents 66% of the national catches for this species. The main objectives of this study were to investigate some reproductive biology aspects and to provide a macroscopic sexual maturity scale to assess the maturation process of female by examination of ovaries and cement glands. The spawning period was from winter to spring and the sex ratio for the whole sample was always in favour of males except during autumn, when the females were not involved in spawning. The carapace length at first maturity for females was estimated at 25.36±0.21 mm.