Maturation and Spawning of the Pink Shrimp, Penaeus duorarum Burkenroad

A description is given of the anatomy of the reproductive system of male and female pink shrimp, Penaeus duorarum. Four stages of female maturation (undeveloped, developing, nearly ripe, and ripe) were observed using ovum size frequency, gross observation, and ratio of gonad weight to tail weight. Size of female at first sexual maturity is estimated to be about 22 millimeters (carapace length). Months of higher spawning activity are April through July. Throughout the study five ripe females were observed; four of these were found during the months of highest spawning activity. It is probable that the female pink shrimp spawns more than once during a lifetime. There is positive correlation between size of shrimp and number of ova spawned. Although temperature is the only environmental factor measured, there is reason to believe that spawning is closely associated with the annual rise and fall of bottom temperatures.