title: Observations on the seasonal breeding biology and fine structure of the egg surface in the white piranha Serrasalmus brandtii from the São Francisco River basin, Brazil.
abstract: In the Juramento Reservoir, south-eastern Brazil, the white piranha Serrasalmus brandtii showed a prolonged reproductive season, with evidence for multiple spawning and a reproductive peak associated with seasonal rains. The egg surface exhibited a honeycomb-like pore canal arrangement and an adhesive apparatus surrounding the micropyle. Electron microscopic analysis suggests a role for the micropylar cell and neighbouring follicular cells in secretion of substances for egg attachment.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, C P 486, 30161-970 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honorato-Sampaio
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bazzoli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rizzo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology; D001938:Brazil; D001947:Breeding; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010063:Ovum / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011891:Rain; D045483:Rivers; D012621:Seasons; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology