Seasonal Changes in Maturity Stages of Female and Hermaphrodite Gonads of Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (Günther, 1874) from Southern Missan Province Marshes, Southern Iraq

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Abstract

The study investigated the seasonal variations in the maturity stages of female Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (the brown bunni) and the occurrence of histological hermaphroditism. From February 2022 to January 2023, a total of 95 specimens were collected from the marshes in southern Missan Province, Iraq. The fish ranged in total length from 19.5 to 41.5cm and weighed between 107 and 1500g. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) values fluctuated throughout the year, with the lowest value at 0.25 in August and the highest value reaching 12.98 in March. The study confirmed that the spawning season of M. sharpeyi extends from March to April. Six maturity stages were determined through both visual and histological examination. Histological analysis revealed the presence of hermaphroditism in some gonads, where both female and male tissues were observed.

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Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
Volume 28, Issue 5 - Serial Number 5
September and October 2024
Pages 1009-1019

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