Biologia reprodutiva de Aegla castro Schmitt (Crustacea, Anomura, Aeglidae) no Buraco do Padre, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brasil Reproductive biology of Aegla castro Schmitt (Crustacea, Anomura, Aeglidae) from Buraco do Padre, Quebra-Perna River, Ponta Grossa, Paraná State, Brazil

<abstract language="eng">The reproductive biology of Aegla caslro Schmitt, 1942 from Buraco do Padre, Ponta Grossa, Paraná State, was analyzed. The sampling was done monthly, from February/97 to January/98 with aid of hand net and screens at three stations, under an effort of 120 minutes. The mean air temperature ranged from 15.0ºC (May, July, September and October) to 24.3ºC (December and January), and the water temperature from 15.8ºC (July) to 22.3ºC (December). The dissolved oxygen oscillated from 95.7% (March) to 100.2% saturation (August) and the pH from 6.1 (July) to 7.2 (September). A total of 827 specimens were obtained among which 384 males, 311 females and 132 juveniles. Males predominated over females, but the sex ratio followed the standard model of 1:1. Juveniles were found during all the study period, except in May and September. The peaks of their frequency curve occurred in April and December. The reproduction is discontinuous type with greater intensity in the colder months, from May to October. The females take part of the reproduction for two consecutive years and the species longevity was estimated in two years. The carapace length of the various development stages ranged as following: juveniles < 6.4 mm, immature females and males = from 6.5 to 12.2 mm and mature females and males = from 12.3 to 29.5 mm