Biological Studies of the Exploited Stock of the Mediterranean Locust Lobster Scyllarides Latus (Latreille, 1803) (Decapoda: Scyllaridae) in the Azores

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Abstract
Of 565 individuals of S. latus (Latreille, 1803) from landings on Pico Island, Azores, during the summer of 1982, 55% were males, and 45% females, of which 75% were ovigerous. The mean carapace length for males and females was 92.4 mm and 94.8 mm, respectively. The weight/length relationship for males is expressed by W = 0.0020L2.825 and for females W = 0.0065L2.580. The number of eggs per brood varied from 151-356,000. The egg-bearing period lasted for .apprx. 6-8 wk, with spawning starting in late June. Eggs hatched into naupliosoma larvae. The naupliosoma stage observed in an aquarium lasted .apprx. 40-60 min. The larvae swam with the help of their antennae. The main diet of S. latus in summer consists of limpets (Patella spp.). The principal predator of the commercial stock is the dusky grouper (Epinephelus guaza). The lobsters migrate to deeper water at the beginning of Oct. and return to the coast in May. Molting takes place in winter. In aquaria, 7 individuals molted between Nov. 28 and Feb. 28. After results of this study were known, the Secretariat of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Regional Government of the Azores changed the closed season for catching this species from Aug. 1 - April 30 to May 31 - Aug. 31.

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