Maturation and Gonad Development of Yellowspotted Puffer Torquigener flavimaculosus (Osteichthyes: Tetraodontidae) from Iskenderun Bay, North-eastern Mediterranean

Abstract

Marine pufferfish of the family Tetraodontidae accumulate the highest levels of tetrodotoxin (TTX) in the ovary. The level of TTX accumulation is reported to differ between males and females and fluctuate through gonadal development and maturation stages. Therefore, in the present work, maturation and gonad development of Yellowspotted Puffer (Torquigener flavimaculosus) from Iskenderun Bay, North-eastern Mediterranean were investigated histologically and morphologically. Mean length and weight of specimens were 12.1±0.58 cm and 20.25±0.17 g respectively. Histological examination of the gonads showed that maturation occurs in every single male T. flavimaculosus collected in summer 2017. Moreover, vitellogenic and matured oocytes were also consistently found in every female collected during the summer months. These data suggest that both sexes are reproductively active at the same time of the year. Where the spawning season for both males and females was detected in summer. T. flavimaculosus was found to be dioecious. Five and six developmental stages were indicated for testis and ovaries, respectively. The developmental pattern of ovaries was categorized as the asynchronous or group synchronous type.

Small-scale fishery catch composition in Rhodes (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

“…The yellow spotted puffer fish T. flavimaculosus has extended its distribution westward in the south Aegean up to the Ionian Sea (EL-NAIS, 2020) and it has been reported as being one of the most invasive marine fish species in Greece (GFCM-UN Environment/MAP, 2018). Çek Yalnız et al (2017) and Ulman et al (2023) suggested that this species spawns from mid spring to late summer in the Turkish Eastern Mediterranean region of Iskenderun Bay and the finding during our study, of many juveniles during winter could corroborate a prolonged spawning period in our study area. Being highly toxic, due to its high content in tetrodotoxin (TTX), this pufferfish is dangerous for human consumption and should never be consumed (Kosker et al, 2018;Katikou, 2019).…”

By-catch and monetary loss of pufferfish in Turkey, the Eastern Mediterranean

“…Additionally, the data related to the economic losses to fisheries as a result of Lessepsian species is generally estimated using the questionnaire studies (Ünal et al, 2015;Ünal and Göncüoğlu-Bodur, 2017). Previous studies on pufferfish in Turkish waters were related to the original confirmed records, distribution (Akyol and Ünal, 2017), toxicity (Acar et al, 2017) reproductive biology (Aydın, 2011;Çek-Yalnız et al, 2017) and feeding ecology (Aydın, 2011;Irmak, 2012). However, the economic impacts of pufferfish on the fisheries have been little studied to date (Ünal et al, 2015;Ünal and Göncüoğlu-Bodur, 2017).…”

Shedding light on the diet of the Lessepsian yellowspotted puffer Torquigener flavimaculosus Hardy and Randall, 1983 in the Eastern Mediterranean

“…RAMADAN & ELHALFAWY (2019) recorded 1 M:1.08 F in populations from the Suez Canal. ÇEK-YALNIZ et al (2017) reported 1 M:1.7 F in Iskenderun Bay, southeast coast of Turkey, a female biased ratio, based on a too low sample number (8 individuals) to statistically evaluate. Although these differences in sex ratios need further investigation and a higher number of individuals in order to be representative for the population of the species.…”