Abstract

The Lightning whelk, Busycon perversum used to be an important resource in the coast of Campeche, at Yucatan Peninsula. Presently high abundance, constituting 40% of the estate catch estimated in 6,500 t. In order to have scientific bases for the management of existing populations, the reproductive cycle was studied to determine the reproductive periods. Twenty adult of B. perversum were sampled monthly in 2009 at Seybaplaya, on the Campeche Bank. The females' prevalence was constant with sizes bigger than those of the males. The sex ratio was constant through the year with a proportion of 4F:1M (female:male). The maturity stages in males were established depending by the amount of the quantity testicular tissue, of the presence of spermatic conduits and of espermatogonias, spermatocytes, espermátidas and spermatozoos. In the females, was used as criterion the quantity ovarian tissue, ovarian ducts and presence of ovogonies and ovocytes. Five development stages were identified: 1) resting stage, 2) gametogenesis, 3) maturation, 4) spawning and 5) Post spawning. Females sexually active was observed year-round from March 2008 to January 2009, with a maturity pick from August to November and period of rest from January to April. The size of first maturity for females L50% was estimated in 205 mm.

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