Premium
Age and size at sexual maturity of the smooth skate Malacoraja senta from the western Gulf of Maine
Author(s) -
Sulikowski J. A.,
Cicia A. M.,
Kneebone J. R.,
Natanson L. J.,
Tsang P. C. W.
Publication year - 2009
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.1095-8649.2009.02443.x
Subject(s) - biology , sexual maturity , maturity (psychological) , ovary , follicle , zoology , medicine , andrology , endocrinology , psychology , developmental psychology
Age and size at sexual maturity was determined for 185 male and 96 female smooth skates Malacoraja senta (ranging in size from 370 to 680 mm total length L T ), collected from the western Gulf of Maine. Maturity ogives for males, based on clasper length, testis mass and the proportion of mature spermatocysts in the testes, suggest that 50% maturity occurs between 9 and 10 years and 560 mm L T . Maturity ogives for females, based on ovary mass, shell‐gland mass and maximum follicle size, suggest that 50% maturity occurs at age 9 years and 540 mm L T .