title: Gonad development and reproduction of the ballyhoo half beak, Hemiramphus brasiliensis from the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
abstract: The gonad development and reproductive aspects of Hemiramphus brasiliensis from the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil were verified. This paper presents data on the length-weight relationship, sex ratio, length at first sexual maturity, gonad development, reproductive period and fecundity of H. brasiliensis. Females of this species predominated in the sampled population and were larger in size than the males. The length at the first sexual maturation of males was 20.8 cm and that of females was 21.5 cm. The macroscopic characteristics of the gonads indicated four maturation stages. Histological studies of gonads of H. brasiliensis showed six phases of oocyte development and four phases of spermatocyte development. The batch fecundity of this species is 1153 (± 258.22) oocytes for 50 g body weight of female. The microscopic characteristics of gonad development indicate that H. brasiliensis is a multiple spawner, with active reproductive period during the months of January to June and October. The reproductive period of this species is independent of the rainy period of the region.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Psychobiology, Center of Bioscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Center of Bioscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Psychobiology, Center of Bioscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Psychobiology, Center of Bioscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chellappa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D006066:Gonads / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*