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Reproductive biology of Eledone moschata (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) in the Gulf of Cádiz (south-western Spain, ICES Division IXa)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2004

Luis Silva
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Unidad de Cádiz, Apdo. 2609, 11006 Cádiz, Spain E-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Fernando Ramos
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Unidad de Cádiz, Apdo. 2609, 11006 Cádiz, Spain E-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Ignacio Sobrino
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Unidad de Cádiz, Apdo. 2609, 11006 Cádiz, Spain E-mails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Abstract

Reproductive aspects of Eledone moschata from the Spanish waters of the Gulf of Cádiz are reported for the first time. The species is relatively abundant over the continental shelf and it is caught as by-catch by the bottom-trawl fleet. Monthly samplings throughout one annual life-cycle showed a sex ratio with a female dominance (0·45:1). A four stage maturity scale was used for both sexes. The reproductive period was determined from monthly evolution of these stages as well as that of several maturity and condition indices. The breeding season extended from October to June, with spawning peaks in October and March–May, the second one being more important. Length and weight at maturity (mantle length50, body weight50) were estimated at 7·8 cm and 97 g in males, and at 12·2 cm and 274 g in females, respectively. Total fecundity, estimated from 52 mature females, was 443·5±154·4 oocytes on average. The mean size of mature oocytes and the mean length of mature spermatophore in mature females and males was 10·24 mm (±1·07) and 13·88 mm (±1·60), respectively.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2004 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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