Cyclicity

H. asinina, like many other marine organisms has a biphasic life-cycle that includes a dispersive larval stage and a benthic reproductive stage (Williams and Degnan 2009). Adults are dioecious and reach sexual maturity within 12 months with a shell length of 35-36mm (Capinpin 1998). They are highly synchronous spawners capable of spawning ten months of the year (except May-June) with peak production in the cooler month of October (Capinpin 1998, Imron et al 2007). H. asinina are very fecund, producing up to 2 million eggs fortnightly (Lucas 2005).

After fertilization in the water column the planktonic larva floats on the current until it settles and mesomorphs into a spat (Fallu 1994). For H. asinina larvae competency is reached after 3-4 days and they must settle within 10 days on specific coraline red algae or they die(Imron 2007). They initially live off micro algae and bacteria but as their radula develops their diet diversifies to include macroalgae they grow out of this spat phase (Fallu 1994).