TIMING OF OVULATION IN THE ATLANTIC WHITE SHRIMP PENAEUS-SETIFERUS (LINNAEUS, 1767) (DECAPODA, PENAEIDEA)

The timing of ovulation in the American white shrimp, Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus, 1767) was studied by sacrificing mated females and females whose spawning was interrupted for histological observation of ovarian tissue. The ovaries of the three mated females were in the cortical body stage, either pre- or post-germinal vesicle breakdown. The oocytes in all of the mated females were entirely enveloped by the follicular epithelium. Observations on the ovaries of females which stopped spawning indicated that ovulation may occur within a very short time before spawning or parallel with spawning.