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Growth pattern and reproductive strategy of the holocephalan Chimaera monstrosa along the Portuguese continental slope

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2004

Teresa Moura
Affiliation:
Departamento de Recursos Marinhos, INIAP-IPIMAR, Av. Brasília, 1449–006 Lisboa, Portugal
Ivone Figueiredo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Recursos Marinhos, INIAP-IPIMAR, Av. Brasília, 1449–006 Lisboa, Portugal
Pedro Bordalo Machado
Affiliation:
Departamento de Recursos Marinhos, INIAP-IPIMAR, Av. Brasília, 1449–006 Lisboa, Portugal
Leonel Serrano Gordo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia Animal & Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Bloco C2, Campo Grande, 1749–016 Lisboa, Portugal

Abstract

Data on age and reproduction of the rabbitfish at the Portuguese continental slope are presented. Ages were estimated based on transverse sections of the dorsal spine. Differences in growth patterns were detected between sexes—males grow slower and are smaller than females. The results from histological analysis of different development stages of testes indicated that the macroscopic scale used is well adapted to rabbitfish sampled in Portuguese waters. In females and excluding macroscopic Stage 4, which according to the adopted scale corresponds to an active phase, all the remaining stages were identified in the samples. Ovarian fecundity was estimated as 6·46±2·32 oocytes (females range: 45·0 to 70·0 cm pre-supra caudal fin length [PSCFL]). Length of first maturity in males (40·7 cm PSCFL) is lower than in females (45·9 cm PSCFL).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2004 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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