Is Hippolyte williamsi gonochoric or hermaphroditic? A multi-approach study and a review of sexual systems in Hippolyte shrimps

摘要: Sexual systems vary considerably among caridean shrimps and while most species are gonochoric, others described as sequential protandric hermaphrodites or simultaneous with an early male phase. At present, there is confusion about the sexual system exhibited by several mostly because those studies attempting to reveal their draw inferences solely from distribution of sexes across size classes. Here we investigated shrimp Hippolyte williamsi Chile determine if gonochoric dimorphism (males smaller than females). Morphological identification frequency distributions indicated that population comprised small males, immature females, large mature which was confirmed dissections. No transitional individuals were found. Males maintained in laboratory molted 1–8 times, many grew up reach sizes observed only a fraction males field. indication sex change recorded. Our results indicate H. sexually dimorphic emphasizes importance using kinds evidence (size measurements, growth experiments, morphological dissections, histological studies) species. Whether between females expression contrasting natural selection, whether divergent fitness functions can contribute evolution hermaphroditism remains be revealed future studies.