Biological aspects of the spring breeding migration of snow crabs, Chionoecetes opilio , in Bonne Bay, Newfoundland (Canada)

• Published in: Fishery bulletin (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 83; no. 4; pp. 707 - 710
• Main Authors: Taylor, D M, Hooper, R G, Ennis, G P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1985
• Subjects: Marine; Chionoecetes opilio
• ISSN: 0090-0656

The occurrence of an annual (April-May) deep- to shallow-water breeding migration of snow crabs, Chionoecetes opilio , in Bonne Bay, on the west coast of Newfoundland, has been documented by Hooper (in press). In addition to being the first record of this phenomenon in this species, his observations contradict some generally accepted conclusions regarding the species' reproductive biology. The most significant of these are that females undergo a terminal molt to maturity and do not mate in the hard shell condition. Little morphometric sampling data are included in Hooper's general description of the breeding migration. The purpose of this paper is to provide a more detailed description of various biological aspects of the phenomenon, such as size difference between paired males and females, and condition of the external egg masses, ovaries, and spermathecae during the breeding period.