title: Reproductive biology of Urotrygon microphthalmum (Batoidea: Urotrygonidae) from north-eastern Brazil, tropical west Atlantic Ocean.
abstract: The reproductive biology of Urotrygon microphthalmum was studied based on specimens caught as by-catch in shrimp (Litopenaeus schmitti, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, Farfantepenaeus subtilis and Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis) fishing operations between March 2010 and March 2012 on the coast of Pernambuco, Brazil. Females reached a larger total length (LT ) and total body mass (MT ) (298 mm and 148 g) than males (250 mm and 90 g). Length at maturity was estimated to be 188 and 199 mm LT for males and females. Uterine fecundity ranged from one to four embryos (mean ± s.d.: 1·85 ± 0·45). Size at birth was estimated to be 105 mm LT . Gestation lasted between 4 and 5 months. The reproductive cycle of U. microphthalmum is hypothesized to be asynchronous and biannual.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Rua Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP 50670-420, Brazil.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santander-Neto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Dinâmica de Populações Marinhas-DIMAR, Departamento de Pesca e Aqüicultura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP 52171-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: M L G
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Rua Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP 50670-420, Brazil.|Laboratório de Dinâmica de Populações Marinhas-DIMAR, Departamento de Pesca e Aqüicultura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP 52171-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lessa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D001938:Brazil; D018940:Elasmobranchii / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D008297:Male; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012098:Reproduction; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
keywords: Myliobatiformes; birth size; elasmobranch; fecundity; maturity