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Bi-directional sex change and gonad structure in the gobiid fish Trimma yanagitai

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Abstract

Bi-directional sex change in the deep-water gobiid fish Trimma yanagitai was examined. The gonads of all individuals consisted of ovarian and testicular elements, and an accessory gonadal structure. In no gonads were both testicular and ovarian parts simultaneously active. Bi-directional sex changes occurred during the rearing experiments in aquaria under conditions of which there was co-existence of two males or plural females. The sex of individuals could be determined by their relative body size or social dominance: the largest individuals acting as male and the remainder as female.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to H. Suzuki, T. Kobari and other members of the Laboratory of Marine Biology, Kagoshima University, for their advice and encouragement during the study. This study was partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C19570016) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kagoshima Immaculate Heart College, 4-22-1 Toso, Kagoshima, 890-8525, Japan

    Makoto Sakurai

  2. Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-0056, Japan

    Susumu Nakakoji & Akihiko Shinomiya

  3. Education Center, Kagoshima University, 1-21-30 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan

    Hisaya Manabe

  4. Diving Service Umi-Annai, 7-7 Masagohonmachi, Kagoshima, 890-0067, Japan

    Shin-ichi Dewa

  5. Tateyama Station, Field Science Center, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 670 Banda, Tateyama, 294-0308, Japan

    Tomoki Sunobe

Authors
  1. Makoto Sakurai
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  2. Susumu Nakakoji
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  3. Hisaya Manabe
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  4. Shin-ichi Dewa
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  5. Akihiko Shinomiya
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  6. Tomoki Sunobe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Makoto Sakurai.

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Sakurai, M., Nakakoji, S., Manabe, H. et al. Bi-directional sex change and gonad structure in the gobiid fish Trimma yanagitai . Ichthyol Res 56, 82–86 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-008-0054-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-008-0054-1

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