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- Title
Observations on the reproductive seasonality of Atlantoraja platana (Günther, 1880), an intensively fished skate endemic to the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
- Authors
Oddone, Maria ristina; Velasco, Gonzalo
- Abstract
Specimens of the La skate (Atlantoraja platana) were collected monthly from commercial fishing landings at Guarujá, São Paulo State, Brazil, from March of 2005 to April of 2006. One hundred males ranging from 13.1 to 70.0 cm and 88 females ranging from 12.5 to 76.0 cm of total length were collected and their gonads analysed to determine maturity stages. Gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indexes did not significantly vary among seasons between the sexes. Ovulation and egg-laying were continuous throughout the year. These observations suggest an annual cycle with eventual -though not well delimited- peaks in the reproductive activity. This pattern has been reported for skates of the same genus and for other species. Atlantoraja platana is intensely exploited, though as a non-target species, and retained for exportation over the South and Southeast Brazilian coast. For these reasons the species is already considered 'vulnerable' by the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species. Present data may be the base for future studies in order to protect the populations of A. platana from local disappearance.
- Subjects
ATLANTIC Ocean; GUARUJA (Brazil); BRAZIL; SKATE fishing; FISH conservation; ENDANGERED species
- Publication
Endangered Species Update, 2008, Vol 25, Issue 4, p122
- ISSN
1081-3705
- Publication type
Article