Jg. Pajuelo et Jm. Lorenzo, Biology of the annular seabream, Diplodus annularis (Sparidae), in coastalwaters of the Canary Islands, J APP ICHTH, 17(3), 2001, pp. 121-125
The biology of the Canary Islands annular seabream Diplodus annularis (Linn
aeus 1758) was studied from samples collected between January and December
1998. Fish ranged from 82 to 209 min total length in size and from 8.7 to 1
37.1 g in weight. The mean length showed an increase with increasing water
depth. Males showed a negative allometric growth and females isometric grow
th. The species was characterized by protandric hermaphroditism. The overal
l sex ratio was unbalanced in favour of males (1 : 0.79). The reproductive
season extended from January to May, with a peak in spawning activity in Ma
rch-April. Males reached maturity at a smaller length (103 nim, 1-year-old)
than females (128 nim, 2-year-old). Fish aged 0-6 years were found. The vo
n Bertalanffy growth parameters for all individuals were: L-infinity = 247.
9 min, k = 0.268 years(-1), and t(o) = -0.879 years.