Reproductive biology of the swell shark Cephaloscyllium ventriosum (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae)

The Cephaloscyllium ventriosum shark is present in the artisanal fisheries of elasmobranchs on the western coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. The main characteristics of the sexual maturation of this species based on individuals captured from off north‐west Mexico in 2013–2016 are described. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of fish biology 2021-09, Vol.99 (3), p.818-830
Main Authors: Bernal‐Pérez, Stephanie, Ochoa‐Báez, Rosa Isabel, Galván‐Magaña, Felipe, Soto‐López, Katherin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artisanal fisheries
Biology
Cephaloscyllium ventriosum
egg cases
Females
Fisheries
histology
Males
Marine fishes
Maturity
Ova
reproduction
Reproductive behaviour
Sexual maturity
Sharks
Sperm
Spermatozoa
Storage
Uterus
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Summary:The Cephaloscyllium ventriosum shark is present in the artisanal fisheries of elasmobranchs on the western coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. The main characteristics of the sexual maturation of this species based on individuals captured from off north‐west Mexico in 2013–2016 are described. The size at maturity of this species was determined for the first time (total length 82 cm for females and 76 cm for males). Most females had one egg case per one uterus, and two per one uterus was an isolated event of low incidence. From the histological analysis of females, it was possible to show sperm storage in the oviducal gland. Fully developed sperm in immature organisms were identified in the testes. The main indicator of the maturity stage of males and their mating activity is the clasper. The present study provides evidence for a reliable estimation of the sexual maturity of these organisms, demonstrating the need for the combination of macroscopic and microscopic methods.
ISSN:0022-1112
1095-8649
DOI:10.1111/jfb.14765