Egg production in Eurypodius latreillii Guerin, 1828 (Decapoda: Majidae) in the Straits of Magellan, southern Chile

Egg production and reproductive investment were studied in the spider crab Eurypodius latreillii from the Straits of Magellan, southern Chile. A total of 66 ovigerous females were analyzed, ranging in size from 29.0 to 62.9 mm carapace length. E. latreillii produced up to 15886 embryos, and clutch size increased with maternal size. Initial egg size was large (0.162 mm³), and the embryo volume increase during the incubation period was 32%. Brood mortality was substantial (83%), and since egg volume increase could not compensate for the egg loss, average egg mass volume decreased considerably during embryogenesis. The average brood mass at laying accounted for 13% of the maternal body mass (on a wet mass basis), and this value coincides with previous findings concerning energy allocation for egg production in other brachyuran crabs. In general, our data regarding E. latreillii correspond well with those from spider crab species inhabiting the northern hemisphere. The large egg size of E. latreillii compared with majids from other geographical regions may be an indication of a latitudinal gradient in the reproductive biology of majid crabs. Future studies with spider crabs from the southern hemisphere are desirable to substantiate this assumption.