FECUNDITY AND EGG-SIZE OF THE BALMAIN BUG IBACUS-PERONII (LEACH, 1815) (DECAPODA, SCYLLARIDAE) OFF THE EAST-COAST OF AUSTRALIA

Samples of egg-bearing female Balmain Bugs Ibacus peronii were collect ed from Coffs Harbour, NSW, and Lakes Entrance, Victoria, to estimate their fecundity and egg-sizer Fecundities ranged between 5 500 and 37 000 eggs per brood with a mean egg diameter of 1.18 mm +/- 0.013 mm. F ecundity did not vary significantly between the two locations and the data were combined to provide a general fecundity-size relationship fo r I. peronii. This relationship is similar to those described for othe r scyllarid and palinurid lobsters in that it can be described by a po sitive linear regression.