Abstract:
The reproductive cycle of the temperate aspidochirote holothurian Stichopus mollis (Hutton, 1872) was examined on the north-east coast of New Zealand from October 1985 through April 1987. Stichopus mollis exhibits an annual reproductive cycle similar to that described for temperate Northern Hemisphere aspidochirotes. Synchronous gonad development is observed in both males and females, with the gonads reaching a maximum size during the austral summer.Although the reproductive peak occurred in the summers of 1986 and 1987, the duration of the reproductive season and the timing of spawning differed between years. In 1987 the gonad index maintained a high value for a 4 month period, with spawning 2–3 months later than in the 1986 season. The extended reproductive season in 1987 may have resulted from the presence of low sea water temperatures associated with an El Nino.