REPRODUCTIVE-BIOLOGY OF LESSER SPOTTED DOGFISH SCYLIORHINUS-CANICULA (L., 1758) IN THE CANTABRIAN SEA

This paper examines sexual maturity of the female lesser spotted dogfi sh Scyliorhinus canicula (L., 1758) in the Cantabrian Sea (north of Sp ain). Analyses made using data collected from commercial trawlers duri ng 1994 and 1995 showed that females reach sexual maturity at a length of 54.2 cm, and the mean egg laying size is 56.4 +/- 0.94 cm. At leas t one in six adult female dogfish carried egg-capsules during the stud y period. Sex ratio by depth strata indicates a larger proportion of f emales in deeper waters. Mature and spawning females were found at dep ths ranging from 100 m to more than 400 m, with their proportion being larger in the deeper strata.