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Reproductive biology of a bathyal hermaphrodite fish, Bathypterois mediterraneus (Osteichthyes: Ipnopidae) from the south-eastern Sardinian Sea (central-western Mediterranean)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2009

Cristina Porcu ,
Maria Cristina Follesa ,
Eleonora Grazioli ,
Anna Maria Deiana  and
Angelo Cau
Cristina Porcu*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
Maria Cristina Follesa
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
Eleonora Grazioli
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
Anna Maria Deiana
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
Angelo Cau
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: C. Porcu, Department of Animal Biology and Ecology, University of Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli, 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy email: cporcu@unica.it
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Abstract

The reproductive biology of the bathyal hermaphrodite Bathypterois mediterraneus is described based on 348 specimens caught during experimental trawl surveys carried out between 800 and 1600 m depth off the south-eastern Sardinian Sea (central-western Mediterranean). Based on macroscopic and histological gonad analysis and monthly variation of GSI, the female component of the tripodfish shows a reproductive season from March to May. The male component shows, instead, a longer spawning period probably guaranteeing continuous spermatogenesis at any time of year. The oocyte size–frequency distributions in mature component indicated that the species exhibits a synchronous-group and monocyclic ovary characterized by deposition in a single batch of eggs per year (total spawner). The species has a late size at first maturity (L50) of 119 mm standard length (SL); the smallest mature specimen was 110 mm SL.

Keywords

Bathypterois mediterraneushermaphroditismreproductionsize of maturityhistologydeep-seacentral-western MediterraneanSardinian Sea
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 90 , Issue 4 , June 2010 , pp. 719 - 728
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

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