SOME FACTORS CONTROLLING REPRODUCTION IN THE SPIDER CRAB,LIBINIA EMARGINATA

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Abstract
While oogenesis in crustaceans has frequently been studied, detailed knowledge of the anatomy, histology and hormonal controls involved in reproduction in female brachyurans have been limited (see Ryan, 1967; Adiyodi and Adiyodi, 1970 for review) . The structure and function of the reproductive system in the crab Portunus during the molting and reproductive cycles of the preadult and two adult instars has been examined recently (Ryan, 1967) . Although a definite relation ship exists between the molting and reproductive cycles in crustacean females, little is known regarding this relationship between molting and sexual maturation among the members of the family Majidae to which Libinia belongs. For instance, Maja is reported to undergo a final or terminal molt (Drach, 1939) . Whether this occurs in all Oxyrhyncha is not known. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between molting and sexual maturation and to determine what if any hormonal controls may be operating in ovarian development in the female spider crab, Libinia emarginata.

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