CONCHOLEPAS CONCHOLEPAS (MOLLUSCA:GASTROPODA:MURICIDAE): LAY1NG OF EGG CAPSULES IN THE LABORATORY AND NATURE.

Abstract

New observations about the laying of cgg capsules by Concholepas concholepas (Bruguiére), loco, in the laboratory (5 years) and in its natural environment (2 years) are presented. According to the results under laboratory conditions and literature reports, C. concholepas spawns througout the whole year. Nevertheless, the greater frecuency of spawning, in both conditions, takes place between juanary/february and may/july. A direct relationship between lenght of shell of females and the mean length of capsules layed by them is demostrated. The smallest size of spawning female in the laboratory was 40.1 mm. A discussion about a possible protection season for C. concholepas is presented.