THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES OF THREE TROCHID GASTROPODS FROM THE TRANSKEI COAST, SOUTHERN AFRICA

Changes in gonadal histology were used to determine the reproductivecycles of three trochid gastropods commonly found along theTranskei coast. They were dioecious, the sexes being evenlydistributed both in terms of numbers and size. Despite someasynchrony, Monodonta australis had a distinct reproductivecycle with a short inactive period during the winter, gonadaldevelopment coincided with increasing sea temperatures and spawningtook place from late summer to autumn. Both Oxystele tabularisand O. variegata exhibited asynchronous intermittent spawningthroughout the study period. However, intensified spawning activityby O. tabularis was noted between April and September. The reproductivecycles and mechanisms of these trochids are compared with thoseelsewhere. (Received 20 January 1986;