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Mating scars reveal mate size in immature female blue shark Prionace glauca
Author(s) -
Calich H. J.,
Campana S. E.
Publication year - 2015
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/jfb.12671
Subject(s) - biology , mating , fish measurement , sexual maturity , zoology , fishery , ecology , fish <actinopterygii>
The objective of this study was to determine the size and maturity status of the male blue sharks Prionace glauca attempting to mate with small, immature females in the north‐west Atlantic Ocean. The relationship between male curved fork length ( L FC ) and jaw gape was used in conjunction with the diameter of the mating scar to estimate the L FC and infer the maturity status of the male shark that produced the mating scar. The results indicate that mature males with a mean ± s.d . L FC of 218 cm ± 23 cm were attempting to mate with sexually immature females.