Notes on the growth and biology of the prawn Pandalus bonnieri Caullery

Abstract

Pandalus bonnieri is a dioecious species and no protandrous hermaphrodites have been seen.The breeding season and incubation period for P. bonnieri are described.The number of eggs laid increases with the size of the female. At 16 mm. carapace length the number of eggs is c. 1000 and at 24 mm. carapace length the number of eggs is c. 4000. The number for a single mm. size group varies roughly by ±10%.Both male and female P. bonnieri become sexually mature at about 18 months, and in the Clyde seldom live beyond 3 years of age.The colour of the eggs in P. bonnieri is sage green, in P. borealis blue green, in P. montagui light emerald green and in P. propinquus fawn.Juvenile P. bonnieri can be separated into males and females by the shape of the pleopods within 4–6 months of hatching.