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Old 03/07/2007, 10:13 AM
Gonodactylus Gonodactylus is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA, USA
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Most of the studies that we have on squillids are for species that are in warmer waters. How seasonally cold waters such as those on the northeastern seaboard affect growth and age are unknown, but I'm sure it must slow things down considerably. Most stomatopod females can either molt or reproduce - they can't do both at the same time. Once egg production starts, that will also slow growth. Squilla empusa in the northeast is a seasonal breeder and I think only produces one or two clutchs a year (I could be wrong). What we don't know is if they molt frequently when they are not reproducing. Sorry to rattle on about this, but the bottom line is we don't have the data to make an informed guess.

Roy