Biometry and reproductive biology of Pseudonereis anomala Gravier 1901 (Polychaeta: Nereididae) on the Alexandria coast, Egypt

The biometric characteristics and reproductive biology of the nereid polychaete Pseudonereis anomala were studied monthly from August 2009 to July 2010 at two ecologically different sites (Abu-Qir and El-Mex) on the Alexandria coast, south-eastern Mediterranean Sea. The maximum body length and weight showed different values at the two sites: 9.8 and 11.9 cm, and 0.77 and 1.3 g respectively. The formula of the length-weight relationship indicated allometric growth, whereas the regression equation between length to the 6th segment and weight reflected isometric growth. Immature individuals were the major component of the worm population at the two sites, making up 69.1% at Abu Qir and 66.9% at El Mex; the respective percentages of males and females at these sites were 5.8–8.1% and 22.8–27.3%. Spawning was observed all the year round with female fecundity conspicuously lower at Abu-Qir (annual average: 26556 ± 999 eggs per female) than at El-Mex (annual average: 47 955 ± 2916 eggs per female). However, oocyte size was greater at Abu Qir (diameter: up to 250 μm) than at El Mex (diameter: up to 220 μm).