Gonadal condition, sperm motility, and initial stages of embryonic development in freckled goatfish Upeneus tragula (Mullidae)

Abstract

Development of sex cells, sperm motility, and initial stages of embryonic development are described in a tropical representative of the family Mullidae, freckled goatfish Upeneus tragula, from the coastal zone of Vietnam. In Nha Trang Bay, the gonads in the majority of sexually mature females are at IV, IV-V, and VI-IV maturity stages over the entire year, and the type of oogenesis is continuous. Anomalous structure of oocytes is registered in 15% of investigated females. In Ha Long Bay, the gonads of almost all sex ually mature females are at maturity stage II in December. In adult males, spermatozoa are the most numer ous in elongated spermiducts. Based on computer assisted analysis of motility of spermatozoa removed from a spermiduct and activated in marine water, sperm velocity reaches 53 µm/s in 1 min after activation, and the duration of progressive movements of spermatozoa does not exceed 5 min.

Biological aspects of some Goatfish (Mullidae) from the southern Egyptian Red Sea; Hurghada to Shalateen

“…These results were in agreement with the previous studies that recorded by (El-Drawany, 2012) for U. moluccensis in Elkhoms coast of Libya; (Ismen, 2005) in Üskenderun Bay, the Eastern Mediterranean; (Torcu and mater, 2000) in the Fethiye and Mersin Gulfs; Ozvarol et al, (2010) in the Gulf of Antalya and Kaya et al, (1999) in south Aegean. Emel'yanovaa et al, (2015) concluded that goatfishes are pelagic spawning and the maturity stages progression with the time of spawning in summer. Cole et al, (2009) concluded that the spawning period of the yellow stripe goatfish (M. flavolineatus) and the yellow fin (M. vanicolensis) was from April through July, as they have an extended spawning season.…”