New data on the reproductive biology of the thorny stingray, Dasyatis centroura (Pisces: Dasyatidae) from off the Tunisian coasts

Aspects of the reproductive biology are described for the thorny stingray, Dasyatis centroura, caught off the coasts of Tunis, mainly from the Gulfs of Gabes and Tunis. Sexual maturity in males occurs at a disk width (DW) of 800 mm. Female maturation occurs between 660 mm and 1000 mm DW. All males a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental biology of fishes 1993-10, Vol.38 (1-3), p.73-80
Main Author: CAPAPE, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Dasyatis centroura
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marine
Non mammalian vertebrate reproduction
Vertebrates: reproduction
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Summary:Aspects of the reproductive biology are described for the thorny stingray, Dasyatis centroura, caught off the coasts of Tunis, mainly from the Gulfs of Gabes and Tunis. Sexual maturity in males occurs at a disk width (DW) of 800 mm. Female maturation occurs between 660 mm and 1000 mm DW. All males and females having a DW greater than 800 and 1000 mm, respectively, were adults. Females are larger than males, with adult specimens having an average DW of 1040 mm in males and 1345 mm in females. Gestation lasts for a minimum of about 4 months. The number of reproductive cycles per year is unknown. Vitellogenesis is completed at the end of the gestation. Parturition and ovulation occur in June, Fecundity ranges from 2 to 6 individuals per litter.
ISSN:0378-1909
1573-5133
DOI:10.1007/bf00842905