Gonadal development, reproductive cycle and sex ratio of the purplish Washington clam, Saxidomus purpuratus were investigated monthly by histological observations. Samples were collected from May 2006 to April 2007 in the Gangjin Bay of Namhea, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. The clams are dioecious. The gonads consist of a number of oogenic follicle and acinus. Monthly changes in the gonad index reached a maximum in April and a minimum in July. Monthly changes in the condition index reached a maximum in June and a minimum in November. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages: the recovery and resting stage (June to December), early active stage (January to April), late active stage (February to July), ripe stage (March to October), spent stage (April to October). The main spawning of the clam occurred in July and September in Gangjin Bay. The sex ratio of female to male was not significantly different from 1:1.
