Abstract
ABSTRACT This study estimates and analyses the reproductive parameters and cycle of Sympterygia bonapartii in San Matías Gulf, northern Patagonia, Argentina. A total of 827 males and 1,299 females were analysed. Males ranged from 185 to 687 mm of total length (TL) and females from 180 to 742 mm TL. Sexual dimorphism was detected; females were larger, heavier, exhibited heavier livers, wider discs and matured at lager sizes than males. Immature females ranged from 180 to 625 mm TL, maturing females from 408 to 720 mm TL, mature ones from 514 to 742 mm TL and females with egg capsules from 580 to 730 mm TL. Immature males ranged from 185 to 545 mm TL, maturing ones from 410 to 620 mm TL and mature males from 505 to 687 mm TL. Size at which 50% of the skates reached maturity was estimated to be 545 mm TL for males and 594 mm TL for females. According to the reproductive indexes analysed, S. bonapartii exhibited a seasonal reproductive pattern. Mating may occur during winter-early spring and the egg-laying season, during spring and summer.
Highlights
Skates (Chondrichthyes: Rajiformes) are the most diverse group of batoids comprising 27 genera and 245 species (Ebert, Compagno, 2007)
The aim of the present study is to provide information on the reproductive parameters and reproductive cycle of S. bonapartii in San Matías Gulf, northern Patagonia, Argentina
The differences may be due to a bias in the size frequency distributions of the skates as a result of the selection of the largest sizes carried out by fishermen on board
Summary
Skates (Chondrichthyes: Rajiformes) are the most diverse group of batoids comprising 27 genera and 245 species (Ebert, Compagno, 2007). The smallnose fanskate S. bonapartii is distributed from Rio de Janeiro (23oS), Brazil, to Santa Cruz (54oS), Argentina (Figueiredo, Menezes, 1977; Menni, Stehmann, 2000). This skate is one of the most abundant and fished along the Argentine coast. It is caught and landed by bottom trawlers in mixed-species fisheries and in fisheries targeting the common hake Merluccius hubbsi Marini, 1933, where it is part of the bycatch (Massa et al, 2004; Tamini et al, 2006; Estalles et al, 2011). It is caught and discarded in the fishery of the Patagonian red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri (Bate, 1888), where its discards are thought to represent an important fraction of its stock (Cedrola et al, 2005)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
