REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF Palythoa caribaeorum AND Protopalythoa variabilis (CNIDARIA, ANTHOZOA, ZOANTHIDEA) FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF BRAZIL

(With 7 figures) The reproductive biology of Palythoa caribaeorum (Duchassaing & Michelotti 1860) and Protopalythoa variabilis (Duerden 1898) was studied through monthly samples from tagged colonies from June 1996 to June 1997, in São Sebastião channel, São Paulo, Brazil (45º26’W, 23º50’S). The gametogenesis was similar to that of other zoanthids as shown by histological preparations. Oocyte diameters and matu-ration stages of testis vesicles were evaluated on squash preparations. Both species showed sequential protogynic hermaphroditism, with high frequency of fertile polyps (83 % in P. variabilis and 72 % in P. caribaeorum), high frequency of colonies in female sex condition (65.3 % of P. variabilis and 41.7 % of P. caribaeorum), and apparently continuous gametogenesis. In P. caribaeorum, egg release was continuous and sperm release took place during half of the analyzed period. In P. variabilis, egg and sperm release occurred in April-May and February-March 1997, respectively