title: Anal-fin ray morphology indicates sexual maturity in Brevimyrus niger (Teleostei, Mormyridae).
abstract: This osteological survey of 249 specimens of Brevimyrus niger ranging in size from 44 to 137 mm standard length (LS) demonstrated that developmental changes in anal-fin morphology can serve as a predictor of sexual maturity in this species. Anal-fin ray bases begin to expand when fish reach c. 90 mm LSat which size and above there were roughly equal numbers of individuals observed with expanded and unmodified anal-fin bases, reflecting a 1:1 sex ratio.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10024, U.S.A.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Stell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10024, U.S.A.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moller
mesh_terms: D058500:Animal Fins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000818:Animals; D004555:Electric Fish / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Mormyridae; anal-fin ray morphology; sexual maturity