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Sexual dimorphism and gonadal development of the Australian longfinned river eel
Author(s) -
Walsh C. T.,
Pease B. C.,
Booth D. J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1046/j.1095-8649.2003.00136.x
Subject(s) - biology , sexual dimorphism , development of the gonads , vitellogenesis , sexual differentiation , gonad , zoology , range (aeronautics) , vitellogenin , gamete , histology , secondary sex characteristic , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , anatomy , embryo , endocrinology , oocyte , hormone , genetics , gene , biochemistry , materials science , composite material , human fertilization
The sex and stage of gonadal development of longfinned river eels Anguilla reinhardtii , captured from nine river catchments in New South Wales, Australia, between 1999 and 2001, were determined macroscopically. Sex was verified by histology. Histology was also necessary, however, to accurately define stages of gonadal development, particularly in individuals <600 mm in total body length. Anguilla reinhardtii displayed asynchronous gamete development. The most advanced cells present in migrating male and female A. reinhardtii were spermatocytes and pre‐vitellogenic oocytes, respectively. Gonadal development stages were positively correlated with body size in both sexes. Females, however, were significantly larger than males and their gonads matured over a broader size range. Size at sexual differentiation (42–60 cm for males and 50–76 cm for females) was much larger than for most other anguillids that have been studied, with the exception of the New Zealand longfinned eel Anguilla dieffenbachii . Corresponding with its large range in size at sexual differentiation was a relatively large range in size at migration for both males (44–62 cm) and females (74–142 cm).