TIMING OF OVULATION IN THE ATLANTIC WHITE SHRIMP PENAEUS-SETIFERUS (LINNAEUS, 1767) (DECAPODA, PENAEIDEA)

The timing of ovulation in the American white shrimp, Penaeus setiferu s (Linnaeus, 1767) was studied by sacrificing mated females and female s whose spawning was interrupted for histological observation of ovari an tissue. The ovaries of the three mated females were in the cortical body stage, either pre- or post-germinal vesicle breakdown. The oocyt es in all of the mated females were entirely enveloped by the follicul ar epithelium. Observations on the ovaries of females which stopped sp awning indicated that ovulation may occur within a very short time bef ore spawning or parallel with spawning.