ON THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE AND BREEDING HABITS OF TWO WESTERN SPECIES OF HALIOTIS ,

Abstract

The annual reproductive cycles were determined for two species of abalone: Haliotis cracherodii and H. rufescens, found in Monterey Bay. The former species shows a marked summer breeding season whereas the latter species shows an ill-defined breeding season and from reports, seems to spawn at all times ofthe year. In both species the hepatic index is inversely correlated with the gonad index. Breeding seasons reported in the literature for 8 species of Haliotis from various parts of the world are summarized.