Abstract

The West Indian Chank or tomburro (Turbinella angulata), is the most predominant species captured in Campeche State, Mexico. The catch average in the last years has been of 4.350 tons of total weight. The objective of the present study was to characterize histological and morphologically the reproductive system of T. angulata. Tomburro is a dioecious mollusk with internal fertilization and development direct, the visceral mass includes the gonad-digestive gland complex. The gonad development and reproductive cycle was evaluated monthly over one year. We assessed changes in the reproductive cycle over 240 individuals’ trough the gonad evolution by histology techniques. The maturity stages were established depending a) in the males: by the amount of testicular tissue, spermatic ducts, and by the presence of spermatogonies, spermatid and spermatozoa and, b) for females: by the amount of ovarian tissue, ovarian ducts and, the presence of ovogonies, and ovocytes. Four development stages were identified in males and females: 1) in maturation, 2) maturity, 3) post spawn and 4) rest. The maturation process was observed from October to January in both sexes. The males presented a maturity pick in February and, post spawn from January to June. For females, the period of maturity and spawn was observed from February to June.

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