Abstract
We studied reproductive characteristics of the phantom shrimp Tozeuma carolinense inhabiting sea-grass beds to test hypotheses about seasonality of reproduction, sex ratio and sexual system, and fecundity values in 3 Mexican collecting sites in the Gulf of Mexico. Four hundred and eighty collected individuals were measured and separated to 3 groups. Based on discriminant analysis, carapace length (CL) was selected as morphometric feature to define 10 size-class intervals. The relationship between sexes were analyzed. Embryos were counted, measured and classified into 4 stages of development. Regression analyses were performed to determine the correlation between the number and size of embryos vs. CL. Sex ratio was 1:1, however, for each location, the sex ratio was different. Males were smaller than females; ovigerous females were larger than non-ovigerous females and males. Fecundity analysis have a significant positive relationship, both in the number and size of embryos vs. female CL. Ovigerous females were found at all dates, and confirmed in El Cayo populations with monthly samples in a year, so that we conclude that T. carolinense belongs to the species category with a seasonal-continuous reproduction.
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