Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Table of Contents - September 2011 - Volume 91, Special Issue 06 (Fish Ecology)  

Research Article

Reproductive biology of the endemic skate Psammobatis lentiginosa in the San Matías Gulf (south-western Atlantic)

Raquel Periera1 c1, Marilú Estallesa1, Marina Collera1 and Edgardo E. Di Giacomoa1

a1 Grupo Condros, Laboratorio de Recursos Icticos, Instituto de Biología Marina y Pesquera, Almirante Storni, Güemes 1030, (8520) San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro, Argentina

Abstract

The reproductive biology of Psammobatis lentiginosa was studied in San Matías Gulf (Patagonia, south-west Atlantic). A total of 1033 skates was analysed, total length ranged from 17 to 52 cm for females and from 13 to 55 cm for males. Total length–total weights relationships differed between sexes, with TW = 0.005 × TL3.02 for females and TW = 0.005 × TL2.97 for males. The overall sex-ratio was 1:1. In females, the L50% was 41.06 cm, in males the L50% was 41.38 cm. The mean number of yolked oocytes per skate was 4.22 (±2.41). The mean number of yolked oocytes and the length of the female were linearly related. The diameter maximum of yolked oocytes was 24 mm. The species exhibited a continuous reproductive cycle throughout the year, with a peak of egg-case production during autumn that was synchronous with maximum values of the epididymis and uterus indices. This is the first record of a reproductive aggregation for P. lentiginosa in San Matías Gulf, North Patagonia. This finding together with its continuous presence around the year, suggest that this area is the main distribution area of P. lentiginosa in the south-west Atlantic.

(Received May 25 2009)

(Accepted June 20 2010)

(Online publication September 27 2010)

Keywords

Correspondence:

c1 Correspondence should be addressed to: R. Perier, Grupo Condros, Laboratorio de Recursos Icticos, Instituto de Biología Marina y Pesquera, Almirante Storni, Güemes 1030, (8520) San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro, Argentina email: raquelperier@gmail.com