Title: Size at first sexual maturity in <i>Zidona dufresnei</i> (CAENOGASTROPODA: VOLUTIDAE) of the south-western Atlantic Ocean (Mar del Plata, Argentina)
Abstract: Size at sexual maturity was studied in Zidona dufresnei through analysis of gonadal tissue samples and secondary sexual characters. Individuals were sampled during two reproductive seasons (austral spring–summer) in the Mar del Plata area, Argentina. Gonadosomatic index was estimated for males and oocyte size frequency was used to estimate the stage of gonadal development in females. Gonadal maturity occurred prior to the development of secondary sexual characters. Size at first gonadal maturity in females was 12·8 cm shell length and in males 12·0 cm shell length, but size at which 50% of the population was mature was 15·7 cm in females and 15·0 cm in males. The results of this study could help to establish a minimal catching size.
Publication Year: 2003
Publication Date: 2003-03-20
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 36
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