Gametogenesis and Reproductive Cycle of the Murex Shell Ceratostoma rorifluum(Neogastropoda: Muricidae)

Gonadal development, gametogenesis, reproductive cycle, spawning, relative weight of flesh, and onset of sexual maturity of the murex shell, Ceratostoma rorifluum, collected from the rocky intertidal zone of Daehang-ri, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea were investigated monthly from January to December 2005 both cytologically and histologically. The gonads were widely placed on the digestive gland located in the posterior spiral fleshy part in the shell. C. rorifluum had separate sexes, and was an internal fertilizer. The sex ratio of females to males was approximately 1:1. The ovary and testis contained a great number of oogenic follicles and spermatogenic tubules, respectively. The oogonia and fully ripe oocytes were $15-19{\mu}m$ and $150-160{\mu}m$ in diameter, respectively, and the cytoplasm of the ripe oocytes contained a number of yolk granules. The relative weight of flesh reached a maximum in August($39.35{\pm}0.40%$), and then decreased rapidly in November($32.75{\pm}1.20%$). The percentages of female and male snails at first sexual maturity with shell heights ranging from 12.1-14.0 mm were 60.0% and 52.9%, respectively, while 100% of the snails of both sexes with shell heights over 18.1 mm were reproductively active. Based on the gonadal development and histological observations, the reproductive cycle of the snail could be categorized into five successive stages: early active(December to May), late active(March to July), ripe(June to September), spawning(July to October), and recovery(October to March). C. rorifluum spawned once a year between July and October, and the majority of spawning occurred in September when the seawater temperature exceeded $23.5^{\circ}C$.

패류 맵사리(Ceratostoma rorifluum)의 생식세포형성과 생식주기