M. Munoz et al., Annual reproductive cycle of Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Teleostei : Scorpaeniformes) with special reference to the ovaries sperm storage, J MARINE BI, 79(3), 1999, pp. 521-529
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
In this paper the macroscopic and microscopic morphology of the gonads of H
elicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Pisces: Teleostei) were analysed as
well as its seasonal histological changes. The testicles are of the lobula
r type. The cystovarian ovaries have a central rachis from which the oviger
ous lamellae are radially suspended. The gonoducts remain independent until
they join together at the urogenital papilla which, in males, can be proje
cted towards the exterior serving as a copulating organ. Sperm production i
s important from July to February In contrast, the females only have mature
and vitellogenic oocytes in winter, from December to February In the west
Mediterranean spawning takes place during the months of January and Februar
y The ovaries contain clusters of spermatozoa for some ten months, from May
onwards. By means of an optical microscope a specialized structure is dete
cted, situated at the base of the interlamellar space, where male sexual ce
lls are stored for a long period of time. Nevertheless, for several months
many individual spermatozoa are also detected in the interlamellar areas, f
loating in the ovarian fluid secreted by the epithelium of the ovarian wall
. It is still unknown whether the species under study is oviparous or vivip
arous, as until now, no intraovarian embryos have been detected in any of t
he specimens analysed.