Fecundity and egg size of Lithodid crabs from CCAMLR
Subarea 48.3

The fecundity and egg size of three species of lithodid crab caught in CCAMLR Subarea 48.3 was examined. Relative fecundity (eggs-g body weight) and egg size was found to differ significantly between species. The highest relative fecundity and smallest egg size was found in Paralomis spinosissima which is found in shallower waters, whereas the lowest relative fecundity values and largest eggs were recorded in the deeper living species, Neolithodes diomedeae. In all species fecundity was observed to increase with increasing body size. Evidence is presented that closely related sympatric species and species found at different depths may employ quite different reproductive strategies.