Maturation, Fecundity and Seasonality of Reproduction of the Squid Uroteuthis duvauceli (Cephalopoda:Loliginidae) in the Suez Canal

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

2 Marine Science Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

Abstract

This study investigates for the first time the reproduction biology of the Squid Uroteuthis duvauceli in the Suez Canal, over 4 seasons. The sexual maturity was analyzed using the gonad condition in both sexes and by the color of the accessory nidamental glands in females. Spawning season was determined by calculating the gonadosomatic index (GSI) in both sexes as well as the nidamental gland-somatic index in females and spermatophoric complex index in males. Fecundity was estimated in 20 females that were in stage IV (spawning) and had dorsal mantle lengths (DML) ranging from 14.5-18.5 cm. The incidence of mating was indirectly detected by the presence of spermatophores in the seminal receptacle situated near the buccal membrane of the arm crown of females. The spawning season takes place in late spring and summer. Significant positive correlations were detected between fecundity and dorsal mantle length (r2= 0.7753), body weight (r2=0.4702) and weight of ovary (r2=0.6665). Most of spawning females (80.32%) were found mated and fully mature females (17.21%) were observed mating. No females at stage I were found to have been mated.

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