Reproductive biology of the Yellow-spotted Puffer Torquigener flavimaculosus (Osteichthyes: Tetraodontidae) from Gulf of Suez, Egypt.

M. Ramadan, Amal; M. Elhalfawy, Magdy

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2019.51022

Reproductive biology of the Yellow-spotted Puffer Torquigener flavimaculosus (Osteichthyes: Tetraodontidae) from Gulf of Suez, Egypt.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2019.51022

Abstract

The present study assesses reproductive biology of Yellowspotted Puffer Torquigener flavimaculosus, were collected seasonally from commercial catches at the Attaka fishing harbor in Suez from winter 2017 until autumn 2018. The sex ratio was found 1:1.08 for male and female, respectively. The fish length at first sexual maturity (L₅₀) was 8.2 cm for males and 9.5 cm for females. In addition, the allometric pattern of gonadal growth was studied to validate the use of the gonado-somatic index (GSI) in assessments of the reproductive cycle. The highest peak of GSI (10.5 ± 1.012%) and (4.3 ± 0.084%) for female and male were recorded in summer, respectively. Values for hepato-somatic index (HSI) is very high and strong inverse relationship with gonado-somatic index (GSI) we inferred that lipid reserves in the liver play an important role in gonad maturation and spawning. Somatic condition factor (Kr) also varied, albeit less so, throughout the year, suggesting that body fat and muscle play lesser roles in providing energy for reproduction. Seasonality of liver lipid content and different spawning seasons have important implications for designing sampling strategies using these fish, especially when monitoring lipophilic contaminants. According to the present results of seasonal variations in maturity stages gonado-somatic index (GSI), hepato-somatic index (HSI) and somatic condition factor (Kr) indicate that the reproductive season of Torquigener flavimaculosus collected from Gulf of Suez represented in summer season.

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