Stages of maturity and their percentages, gonado somatic index (GSI), spawning season, size at first maturity, sex ratio, and fecundity were studied in deep water mud shrimp Solenocera melantho off Visakhapatnam coast for two years. The shrimp was a continuous breeder with peak periods in November and December. High GSI values were recorded in April, June and November for males and for females it was in June, November and December. The sex-ratio of male to female was 1:1.09. There was no significant difference in sex ratio between males and females - but percentage of females was more with increasing size. The fecundity ranged from 41,342 to 1,24,148 in the shrimps of 84 mm to 113 mm length. A linear relationship was observed between the logarithmic form of fecundity and total length, total weight, total weight and ovary weight.

Deep water mud shrimp, Solenocera melantho, reproductive biology