Ovarian development of the crab Eriphia gonagra (Fabricius, 1781) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Eriphiidae) in northeastern Brazil

Abstract We describe the development and maturation of the germ cells of the brachyuran crab Eriphia gonagra (Fabricius, 1781). Monthly collections were conducted in Pernambuco state, northeastern Brazil, from November 2018 to October 2019 during the low spring tide. The anatomy of the reproductive system of female individuals follows the basic brachyuran pattern. Five cell developmental stages were identified based on the morphological changes in the developmental stages: oogonia (7.10 ± 1.85 µm), pre-vitellogenic oocytes (42.23 ± 8.61 µm), oocytes in initial vitellogenesis (130.49 ± 21.93 µm), vitellogenic oocytes (139.68 ± 23.45 µm), and mature oocytes (214.77 ± 90.81 µm). Developmental stages were defined and related to gonad coloration and germ- cell development; five maturational stages were identified: immature, initial maturation, advanced maturation, mature, and spawning/resting.