Transferencia de espermatóforos en el camarón de roca Rhynchocinetes typus (Caridea: Rhynchocinetidae)

Abstract

The manner in wich males of the rock shrimp Rhynchocinetes typus transfer spermatophores during mating was determined. Fecundation is external. The first and second pair of male pleopods play an active role in the transfer of sperm to the female's sternite. To he participation of these pleopods was determined by amputating the first, second, or both pairs of pleopods of sexually mature males of the type robustus. The number of fertilized eggs in the females was then counted. No fertilization was observed in he females that had mated with males lacking both the first and second pairs of pleopods. Females that had mated with males without either the first or second pair of pleopods presented (1.8% and 0.04%) fewer fertilized eggs than those females that had mated with intact males (100%). These results indicate that both pairs of pleopods participate in the transfer of sperm.