Reproduction
The life-history strategy of C. annulus is characterized by rapid growth, high fecundity, and repeated spawning throughout the year. The money cowry is a dioecious species, having separate sexes, and fertilise internally. After copulation, female cowries lay a cluster of small eggs which they sit on until they hatch. After hatching, cowry larvae undergo torsion and are planktonic, floating around in the column before settling.
The breeding season of the gold ring cowry is not well understood, with some studies suggesting this species reproduces all year round while others suggest an array of different breeding seasons (Katoh 1989). The brooding period of C. annulus is relatively short but is said to vary considerably with season and may depend on temperature or food availability (Katoh 1989). |