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The reproductive biology of Lutjanus fulviflamma (Forsskål,1775) (Pisces: Lutjanidae) in Kenyan inshore marine waters

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Abstract

The testicular and ovarian maturation cycle of thedory snapper, Lutjanus fulviflamma(Forsskål) (Osteichthyes:Lutjanidae), acommercially valuable species in the western IndianOcean, is described macroscopically. The ovary wasalso studied microscopically. L. fulviflammahas one prolonged spawning season which begins fromNovember/December, lasting till April/May. Discontinuous spawning is established by (i) temporalvariation in the relative weight of testis andovaries, (ii) a seasonal occurrence of various maturitystages and, (iii) a seasonal occurrence of developingfish in the samples. Using volumetric andhistological techniques, the fecundity of this specieswas determined at 51,000 to 460,000 (mean: 167,000)oocytes in fish of between 17 to 30 cm total length,respectively. Oocyte recrudescence in the ovary isasyncronous, but the number and size of batches ofeggs released in a single spawning season are yet tobe determined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries, Moi University, P.O.Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya

    B. Kaunda-Arara

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, P.O.Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya

    M.J. Ntiba

Authors
  1. B. Kaunda-Arara
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  2. M.J. Ntiba
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Kaunda-Arara, B., Ntiba, M. The reproductive biology of Lutjanus fulviflamma (Forsskål,1775) (Pisces: Lutjanidae) in Kenyan inshore marine waters. Hydrobiologia 353, 153–160 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003011013136

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