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Reproductive biology of the guitarfish Rhinobatos hynnicephalus (Batoidea: Rhinobatidae) in Ariake Bay, Japan

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Abstract

Size at sexual maturity, reproductive cycle, and fecundity of the guitarfish, Rhinobatos hynnicephalus, were examined in Ariake Bay, Japan. Females reached sexual maturity at a larger size than males [total length (TL) at 50% sexual maturity: males, 431 mm; females, 476 mm]. Monthly gonadosomatic indices of males decreased abruptly from July to August. Histological examinations confirmed the presence of mature spermatozoa in the testes in July, with semen in seminal vesicles in July and August. Preovulatory ova were observed in females with near-term embryos in August. Parturition occurred in August, immediately followed by mating, ovulation, and fertilization. Gestation period is approximately 1 year. Fertilized uterine eggs without embryonic development were present throughout the annual reproductive cycle. Embryonic development began in June and ended in August, indicating that R. hynnicephalus undergoes embryonic diapause (9 months). Fecundity increased with TL and ranged from 1 to 9 (mean, 4.4) embryos per litter.

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Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank Seinosuke Yoshida and the commercial fishermen of the Shimabara Fisheries Cooperative Association. We also thank two anonymous referees for their critical comments. This study was financially supported by the Japan Science and Technology (JST) Corporation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Landcare Research, Gerald Street, P.O. Box 40, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand

    Gen Kume

  2. Faculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo, Nagasaki, 8528521, Japan

    Gen Kume & Atsuko Yamaguchi

  3. Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo, Nagasaki, 8528521, Japan

    Keisuke Furumitsu & Shinya Tanaka

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  1. Gen Kume
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  2. Keisuke Furumitsu
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  3. Shinya Tanaka
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  4. Atsuko Yamaguchi
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Correspondence to Gen Kume.

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Kume, G., Furumitsu, K., Tanaka, S. et al. Reproductive biology of the guitarfish Rhinobatos hynnicephalus (Batoidea: Rhinobatidae) in Ariake Bay, Japan. Environ Biol Fish 85, 289–298 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-009-9487-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-009-9487-2

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