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Biology of the radiated shanny Ulvaria subbifurcata Storer in Newfoundland (Pisces: Stichaeidae)
Author(s) -
LeDrew Bevin R.,
Green John M.
Publication year - 1975
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 - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1975.tb04623.x
Subject(s) - biology , demersal zone , predation , pelagic zone , benthic zone , fishery , zoology , larva , incubation , nocturnal , fish <actinopterygii> , predator , ecology , biochemistry
Ulvaria subbifurcata is found on the north‐east Atlantic coast of North America. Fish less than 55 mm preyed predominantly on copepods, while larger ones ate mainly nereids; polynoids and amphipods were eaten by all sizes. These four food items comprised the main food of the radiated shanny. Spawning occurred in May with the fish first spawning at age three to five. No conspicuous secondary sexual characters were observed. Females spawned once per year, producing a demersal egg mass. Males spawned up to four times and tended the egg mass (or masses). Incubation lasted 35–40 days, and the pelagic larvae settles on the bottom by August. Adult males tended to be larger than females of the same age but little difference was found sexually in the length–weight relationships. Ulvaria subbifurcata larger than 60 mm are nocturnal. This may reduce predation by, and competition with, other inshore benthic fishes.