NEW DATA ON THE REPRODUCTIVE-BIOLOGY OF THE THORNY STINGRAY, DASYATIS-CENTROURA (PISCES, DASYATIDAE) FROM OFF THE TUNISIAN COASTS

Aspects of the reproductive biology are described for the thorny sting ray, Dasyatis centroura, caught off the coasts of Tunis, mainly from t he Gulfs of Gabes and Tunis. Sexual maturity in males occurs at a disk width (DW) of 800 mm. Female maturation occurs between 660 mm and 100 0 mm DW. All males and females having a DW greater than 800 and 1000 m m, respectively, were adults. Females are larger than males, with adul t specimens having an average DW of 1040 mm in males and 1345 mm in fe males. Gestation lasts for a minimum of about 4 months. The number of reproductive cycles per year is unknown. Vitellogenesis is completed a t the end of the gestation. Parturition and ovulation occur in June. F ecundity ranges from 2 to 6 individuals per litter.