FECUNDITY OF THE SPINY LOBSTER PANULIRUS-ARGUS (LATREILLE, 1804) IN THE CARIBBEAN COAST OF MEXICO

The carapace length-brood size (CL-BS) relationship of female Panuliru s argus from northern Quintana Roo, Mexico, was examined. Ovigerous fe males were sampled in April-November 1987, July-September 1988, and Ap ril-November 1989. No significant differences were found in the relati onship either seasonally or interannually, indicating that the mean br ood size of females of equal carapace lengths remained fairly similar throughout the study period, despite the passage of two hurricanes ove r Puerto Morelos in 1988. No differences were apparent in the relative size of the eggs throughout their development, but eggs in all develo pment stages were smaller in autumn than in spring or summer. This sug gests that the spring spawn is the first of the breeding season, and t hat eggs are smaller in subsequent spawnings. Female P. argus from Pue rto Morelos have a CL-BS relationship more similar to females from Bra zil than from Cuba. Females between 105 and 120 mm CL contribute 42% o f the total egg production from the population. The potential egg prod uction of female P. argus in Puerto Morelos is much higher than in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.