In this study we investigated the male testicular activity and the reproductive condition of females in relation to their external reproductive characteristics (pregnant, lactating, post-lactating) in the phyllostomid bat Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818). Five hundred and twenty six individuals were examined (197 males and 329 females) in the period December 2001 to May 2003. Throughout the study most males displayed large scrotal testes. Thirty-three males were randomly selected for histological examination at various times throughout the year and were found to have spermatogenic testes. The reproductive characteristics of the females indicated that they were reproductively active mainly during the wet season. Pregnancy occurs at the end of the dry season and parturition in the wet season. Most individuals captured after this season, mainly the females, were sexually immature. Our results suggest a seasonal monoestrous reproductive pattern for the species; however, adult males being fertile throughout the year could suggest polyoestry. Seasonal polyoestry is a possibility. There was, however, no evidence that females had more than one pregnancy per year.

Ria de Alvor is a small estuary between Lagos and Portimão on the south coast of Portugal, 37°7′–37°10′N, 8°35′–8°38′W. Samples were collected monthly in the period April 1985–March 1986 in an ichthyoplankton and ichthyofauna survey of the estuary. A WP‐2 plankton net was used for catching ichthyoplankton, and a beam trawl and a beach seine were used for catching ichthyofauna. Scaldfish, Arnoglossus laterna (Walbaum, 1792), even though the most abundant species in ichthyoplankton samples, was never found in ichthyofauna samples. From the results obtained, it is concluded that a great part of the fish species are temporary marine visitors using the Ria as a nursery ground, although this system appears to provide a spawning area for species with benthic eggs. No evidence was found of pelagic spawning.