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First confirmed complete incubation of a flapper skate ( Dipturus intermedius ) egg in captivity
Author(s) -
Benjamins Steven,
Cole Georgina,
Naylor Adam,
Thorburn James A.,
Dodd Jane
Publication year - 2021
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.14816
Subject(s) - biology , hatching , captivity , skate , fishery , zoology , salinity , incubation , ecology , biochemistry
An egg of the critically endangered flapper skate Dipturus intermedius was successfully incubated to hatching in captivity in what is believed to be a first for the species. Water conditions (temperature, salinity, flow rate) were recorded, with mean water temperatures ranging from a monthly mean of 8.3 ± 1.2 to 13.2 ± 0.3°C and salinity from a monthly mean of 30.5 ± 1.2 to 36.6 ± 2.3 ppt. Hatching occurred after 534 days, suggesting that flapper skate eggs take c . 5700 growing degree‐days to incubate to hatching. The egg's prolonged embryonic development raises concerns about flapper skate eggs' vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbance.