Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reproductive biology of the Geno hot spring tooth-carp (Aphanius ginaonis Holly, 1929) in southern Iran

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study provides fundamental information on some key aspects of the reproductive traits of Aphanius ginaonis, an Iranian endemic, poorly studied cyprinodontid fish species. Samples were taken monthly, from March 2010 to February 2011, from Geno hot spring (Bandar Abbas, Iran). The smallest sexually mature male and female individuals measured 21.1 and 15.1 mm and massed 0.15 and 0.06 g, respectively. The overall sex ratio (females/males) found to be 1.18. Monthly sex ratios suggested no significant differences, although females demonstrated significantly higher abundances than males at larger length classes. Gonadosomatic index and ovary condition suggested that species reproductive period lasts all year. Oocyte diameter ranged from 0.30 to 2.20 mm, with a mean of 1.15 ± 0.49 mm. Monthly mean oocyte diameter were not significantly different, ranging from 0.99 (in February) to 1.22 mm (in December). Size composition analysis of oocyte diameter showed that females contained mature oocytes (>1.1 mm) throughout year. Absolute fecundity of A. ginaonis ranged from 36 to 832 oocytes per individual (mean: 341 ± 209 oocytes), varying considerably at given length and mass. Relative fecundity to total length fluctuated from 12 to 169 oocytes/mm (mean: 78 ± 41 oocytes/mm) while relative fecundity to total mass varied from 61–526 oocytes/g (mean: 213 ± 106 oocytes/g). A. ginaonis is an asynchronous, iteroparous spawner producing more than one oocyte clutch in a single reproductive season.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alavi-Yeganeh MS, Seyfabadi SJ, Keivany Y, Kazemi P, Wallis GP (2011) Length- weight relationships in some populations and species of Iranian toothcarps. J Appl Ichthyol 27:1401–1403. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01782.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caddy JF, Mahon R (1995) Reference points for fisheries management. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 347. Rome, FAO.

  • Cao L, Song B, Zha J, Yang C, Gong X, Li J, Wang W (2009) Age composition, growth, and reproductive biology of yellow catfish (Peltobagrus fulvidraco, Bagridae) in Ce Lake of Hubei Province, Central China. Environ Biol Fish 86:75–88. doi:10.1007/s10641-008-9342-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coad BW (1980) A re-description of Aphanius ginaonis (Holly, 1929) from southern Iran (Osteichthyes: Cyprinodontiformes). J Nat Hist 14:33–40. doi:10.1080/00222938000770031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coad BW (1998) Threatened fishes of the world: Lebias ginaonis (Holly, 1929) (Cyprinodontidae). Environ Biol Fish 51:284. doi:10.1007/s10641-009-9549-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Haweet AA (1991) Biological studies of some Cichlid species in Lake Borollus. Dissertation, University of Alexandria

  • El-Shazly A (1993) Biological studies on four cichlid fishes (Tilapia nilotica, Tilapia galilae, Tilapia zillii, Tilapia aurea). Dissertation, University of Zagazig

  • Esmaeili HR, Ebrahimi M (2006) Length–weight relationships of some freshwater fishes of Iran. J Appl Ichthyol 22:328–329. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0426.2006.00653.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esmaeili HR, Shiva H (2006) Reproductive biology of the Persian Tooth-carp, Aphanius persicus (Jenkins, 1910) (Cyprinodontidae), in southern Iran. Zool Middle East 37:39–46. doi:10.1080/09397140.2006.10638147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez-Delgado C, Hernando JA, Herrera M, Bellido M (1988) Age, growth and reproduction of Aphanius iberus (Cuv. & Val., 1846) in the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir River South-West Spain. Freshw Biol 20:227–234. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.1988.tb00446.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golmoradizadeh E, Kamrani E, Sajjadi MM (2011) Life history traits of Aphanius ginaonis Holly, 1929 (Cyprinodontidae) and potential risks of extinction in the Geno hot spring (Iran) population. J Appl Ichthyol 28(1):1–3. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01868.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Güçlü SS, Kucuk F (2011) Reproductive biology of Aphanius mento (Heckel in: Russegger, 1843) (Osteichthyes: Cyprinodontidae) in Kirkgoz spring (Antalya-Turkey). Turk J Fish Aquat Sci 11:323–327. doi:10.4194/trjfas.2011.0217

    Google Scholar 

  • Güçlü SS, Kucuk F (2012) Population structure of Killifish, Aphanius anatoliae (Cyprinodontidae) endemic to Anatolia in Lake Eğirdir-Isparta (Turkey). JIFRO 11(4):786–795

    Google Scholar 

  • Hotosa GN, Avramidoua D, Ondrias I (2000) Reproduction biology of Liza aurata (Risso, 1810), (Pisces Mugilidae) in the lagoon of Klisova (Messolonghi, W. Greece). Fish Res 47:57–67. doi:10.1016/S0165-7836(99)00128-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hrbek T, Meyer A (2003) Closing of the Tethys Sea and the phylogeny of Eurasian killifishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Cyprinodontidae). J Evol Biol 16(1):17–36. doi:10.1046/j.1420-9101.2003.00475.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbs C, Strawn K (1957) The effects of light and temperature on the fecundity of the greenthroat darter, Etheostoma lepidum. esa. Ecology 38:596–602. doi:10.2307/1943125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbs C, Stevenson MM, Peden AE (1968) Fecundity and egg size in two central Texas darter populations. Southwest Nat 13(30):1–323. doi:10.2307/3669223

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter JR, Macewicz BJ, Lo NCH, Kimbrell CA (1992) Fecundity, spawning, and maturity of female Dover sole, Microstomus pacificus, with an evaluation of assumptions and precision. Fish Bull 90(1):101–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamal S, Bakhtiyari M, Abdoli A, Eagderi S, Karami M (2009) Life-history variations of killifish (Aphanius sophiae) populations in two environmentally different habitats in central Iran. J Appl Ichthyol 25:474–478. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0426.2009.01242.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keivany Y, Soofiani NM (2004) Contribution to the biology of Zagros tooth-carp, Aphanius vladykovi (Cyprinodontidae) in central Iran. Environ Biol Fish 71:165–169. doi:10.1007/s10641-004-0106-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonardos I, Sinis A (1998) Reproductive strategy of Aphanius fasciatus Nardo, 1827 (Pisces: Cyprinodontidae) in the Mesolongi and Etolikon lagoons (W. Greece). Fish Res 35:171–181. doi:10.1016/S0165-7836(98)00082-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Xie S, Li Z, Gong W, He W (2007) Gonad development of an anadromous fish Coilia ectenes (Engraulidae) in lower reach of Yangtze River, China. Fish Sci 73:1224–1230. doi:10.1111/j.1444-2906.2007.01459.x

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maitland P (2001) Guide to freshwater fish of Britain and Europe. Hamlyn, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Murua H, Karus G, Saborido-Ray F, Witthames PR (2003) Procedures to estimate fecundity of marine fish species in relation to their reproductive strategy. J Northwest Atl Fish Sci 33:33–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Negassa A, Getahun A (2003) Breeding Season, length-weight relationship and condition factor of introduced fish, Tilapia zillii Gervais 1948 (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Lake Zwai, Ethiopia. SINET Ethiop J Sci 26:115–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Negassa A, Padanillay CP (2008) Abundance, food habits, and breeding season of exotic Tilapia zillii and native Oreochromis niloticus L. fish species in Lake Zwai, Ethiopia Mj. Int J Sci Technol 02(02):345–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan BS, Yeh WT (1993) Biochemical and morphological changes in grass shrimp (Penaeus monodon) muscle following freezing by air blast and liquid nitrogen methods. J Food Biochem 17:147–160. doi:10.1111/j.1745-4514.1993.tb00464.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips AE (1994) Studies on the biology of two Tilapia species in Lake Edku. Dissertation, Alexandria University

  • Reichenbacher B, Kamrani E, Esmaeili HR, Teimori A (2009) The endangered cyprinodont Aphanius ginaonis (Holly, 1929) from southern Iran is a valid species: evidence from otolith morphology. Environ Biol Fish 86:507–521. doi:10.1007/s10641-009-9549-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schenck JR, Whiteside BG (1977) Reproduction, fecundity, sexual dimorphism and sex ratio of Etheostoma fonticola (Osteichthyes: Percidae). Am Midl Nat 98(2):365–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teimori A (2013) The evolutionary history and taxonomy of Aphanius (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) species in Iran and the Persian Gulf region. Dissertation, University of München

  • Wildekamp RH (1993) A world of killies: Atlas of the oviparous cyprinodontiform fishes of the world. Volume 1. The genera Adamas, Adinia, Aphanius, Aphyoplatys and Aphyosemion. Amer. Killifish Assoc., Mishawaka. 311 pp

  • Zhang J, Takita T, Zhang C (2009) Reproductive biology of Ilisha elongata (Teleostei: Pristigasteridae) in Ariake Sound, Japan: implications for estuarine fish conservation in Asia. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 81:105–113. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2008.10.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winemiller KO, Rose KA (1992) Patterns of life-history diversification in North American fishes: implications for population regulation. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 49:2196–2218. doi:10.1139/f92-242

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was conducted with the approval of environmental protection office of geno hot spring, Bandar Abbas, Iran. We would like to thank A. Bagheri and S. Okhdad from Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas branch for her valuable help to use of laboratory facilities and Parshan for his help with the sampling. Special thanks to H. H. Larson for editing our manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

    Parviz Zare

  2. Young Researchers and Elite Club, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran

    Mojtaba Naderi

  3. Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran

    Samaneh Asghari

Authors
  1. Parviz Zare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mojtaba Naderi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Samaneh Asghari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Parviz Zare.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zare, P., Naderi, M. & Asghari, S. Reproductive biology of the Geno hot spring tooth-carp (Aphanius ginaonis Holly, 1929) in southern Iran. Environ Biol Fish 98, 1365–1371 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0364-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0364-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation