Ovarian development and size at sexual maturity of the Mexican spiny lobster Panulirus inflatus

The ovarian development and the size at sexual maturity of Panulirus inflatus (Bouvier) of the Mexican Pacific and Gulf of California coastal waters were determined monthly between August 2001 and July 2002, using 191 females with carapace lengths (CLs) ranging from 44.94 to 94.18 mm. The seasonal cycle of ovarian development was divided into seven stages. The diameter of mature oocytes differed depending on ovarian maturity stage (inactive = 44-115 mu m, developing 115-192 mu m, ripe = 285-438 mu m, re-developing 85-158 mu m, re-ripe = 133-183 mu m, spawned = 29-87 mu m, and recovering = 33-58 mu m). Size of the smallest mature female was 53.02 mm CL, and the size at which 50% of females reached sexual maturity was estimated as 63.73 mm CL. Mature females were present every month, indicating a continuous reproductive pattern, although gonadosomatic index values were highest between February and July, with the maximum value in June. Results from this study indicate that the present minimum legal size, based on other spiny lobster species, is too large for P. inflatus.