Reproductive Biology of the Thumbprint Emperor, Lethrinus harak (Forsskal 1775), using histological ultra-structural characteristic in gonads along Sudanese Coastal Waters

Adam Badr Eldinn Kh ,Sheikheldin M Elamin ,Salah Eldeen Y.m Habiballah

doi:10.7176/jbah/9-4-10

Abstract

Lethrinus harak (Forsskal 1775) are very common species of the family Lethrinidae in Sudanese Red Sea Coast. Some aspects of the reproductive biology and histology of the gonads of Lehtrinus harak were studied between 2008 and 2009. The present study described six maturity stages for gonad development based on external features and histological study of males/females. Males of Lethrinus harak attain maturity stages at a relatively bigger size than females (at 22.5 cm for males and 21.7 cm for females). Lethrinus harak has a prolonged spawning season extending from October to April with peaks in April. Keywords: Lethrinus harak , Reproduction, histology , Abu Hashish, Red Sea DOI : 10.7176/JBAH/9-4-10

Highlights

The study of reproduction and egg production increases our knowledge about the state of a stock and improves standard assessments of many commercially valuable fish species
The aim of this study to collected main base line information on reproductive performance of Lethrinus harak during development in order to investigate the reproductive biology of L. harak, including its spawning season, gonad maturity stages, sex ratio, and the size at which50% of fish attain first sexual maturity which a future support mariculture and on fisheries management
Testes External Feature Long, slender and thread like translucent structures occupying about 33% of the abdominal cavity Ribbon-like structures slightly bigger than stage 1, grayish-white in colour occupying 50% of cavity Broad and thick dark white in in colour, blood vessels visible externally milt oozes out from cut surfaces and occupying 70% of the abdominal cavity

Summary

Introduction

The study of reproduction and egg production increases our knowledge about the state of a stock and improves standard assessments of many commercially valuable fish species. There are at least four species of the genus Lethrinus common in the Sudanese waters, all of which come under the common Arabic name of Sha’oor, and are one of the most common local commercial fishes and are found throughout the year Abu Gideiri (1984). The aim of this study to collected main base line information on reproductive performance of Lethrinus harak during development in order to investigate the reproductive biology of L. harak, including its spawning season, gonad maturity stages, sex ratio, and the size at which50% of fish attain first sexual maturity which a future support mariculture and on fisheries management. Hilborn. et al (1992) and Pauly (1994) reported that growth and mortality model parameter estimates are required for analytical fisheries management

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Conclusion