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Maturity, fecundity, and breeding seasons of the major catfishes (suborder: siluroidea) in Lake Victoria, East Africa
Author(s) -
Rinne J. N.,
Wanjala B.
Publication year - 1983
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.1095-8649.1983.tb02915.x
Subject(s) - fecundity , biology , sexual maturity , population , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , maturity (psychological) , fishery , reproduction , zoology , demography , sociology , psychology , developmental psychology
Three of the five major species of catfishes in Lake Victoria displayed continuous, protracted (fractional) spawning activity with half or more of the population in gonadal stages IV–VI. Pulses in reproductive activity occurred in all species and were generally positioned between the established, rainy seasons for East Africa. Although highly variable, relative fecundity was positively correlated with body length and weight of fish in all species. All five species matured sexually between their first and third year of life.