BIOTIC Species Information for Liocarcinus depurator
Researched byLizzie Tyler Data supplied byUniversity of Sheffield
Refereed byThis information is not refereed.
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive typeGonochoristic
 Developmental mechanismPlanktotrophic
Oviparous
Reproductive SeasonYear round Reproductive LocationWater column
Reproductive frequencyAnnual protracted Regeneration potential No
Life spanInsufficient information Age at reproductive maturity1 year
Generation timeInsufficient information Fecundity130000
Egg/propagule size Fertilization typeInternal
Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potentialInsufficient information Larval settlement periodInsufficient information
Duration of larval stage   
Reproduction Preferences Additional Information
  • Time of gametes: In the northwestern Mediterranean female moult and copulation takes place between May and July (Abelló, 1989a).
  • Spawning: Females with eggs occur all year (Ingle, 1997) although a maximum proportion of ovigerous females has been observed indicating the existence of an annual reproductive cycle. In Plymouth, ovigerous females are reported from March to October, from April to May in Bristol, January to June in the Clyde and Argyll and from January to May in Galway (Ingle, 1997). In the warmer waters of the northwestern Mediterranean numbers of ovigerous females peak in the winter months from November to February and males were found to be sexually mature throughout the year (Abelló, 1989a). In Plymouth, Liocarcinus depurator was found to incubate three or more batches of eggs over the spring and summer breeding season (Wear, 1974).
  • Fecundity: The number of eggs carried by ovigerous females in the north western Mediterranean ranged from about 30,000 to 230,000 clearly increasing with the size of the female (Abelló, 1989a). However, a maximum of 140,000 eggs for the largest females was estimated in the Ligurian Sea (Mori & Zunino, 1987).
  • Age at maturity: In the Gulf of Genoa in the Ligurian Sea Liocarcinus depurator females attain sexual maturity, are fertilized and bear eggs within the first year (Mori & Zunino, 1987).
  • Larvae: in the plankton during spring and summer in British and North Sea waters (Ingle, 1980).
Reproduction References Abelló, 1989a, Ingle, 1997, Mori & Zunino, 1987, Ingle, 1980, Wear, 1974, Julie Bremner, unpub data,
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