Ovigerous Setae as an Indicator of Reproductive Maturity in the Spiny Lobster, Panulirus argus (Latreille)

Abstract

A comparative evaluation is presented of 3 external indicators of reproductive maturity - eggs, spermatophores and ovigerous setae - of female P. argus captured in the lower Florida Keys during the 1976 reproductive season. Data revealed that females with ovegerous setae were several fold more abundant in trap samples than females bearing spermatophores or eggs or both, thereby indicating that the use of ovegerous setae, in conjunction with eggs and spermatophores as an indicator of reproductive maturity would enhance trap-sampling efficiency.