Abstract

CARVALHO-SAUCEDO, Liliana et al. Reproductive biology of the Cannonball Jellyfish Stomolophus meleagris in Las Guasimas Lagoon, Sonora, Mexico. Hidrobiológica [online]. 2011, vol.21, n.1, pp.77-88. ISSN 0188-8897.

This paper describes basic aspects of the reproductive biology of the medusa phase of Stomolophus meleagris. From January to May 2006, 34 individuals were collected every month, in Las Guásimas Lagoon, Sonora, México. Specimens were weighed and measured; their gonads were removed and processed following the standard histological hematoxylineosin staining technique. The gonad development of both males and females was continuous and had four phases. Sex ratio was 1:1 and no significant differences were detected between males and females in length or weight. .Reproductive activity was present from February to May, whereas the maximum maturation in both sexes occurred in April to May. Gonadic maturation and reproduction were related to the gradual increase of temperature and chlorophyll a.

Keywords : Stomolophus meleagris; Cannonball jellyfish; reproduction.