Reproductive biology of the greater lizardfish, Saurida tumbil (Bloch, 1795), in Bushehr coastal waters of Iran

A total of 691 specimens (114 males, 538 females, and 39 immature specimens) were collected from Bushehr coastal waters of the Persian Gulf from February 2007 to February 2008 to study the reproduction of this species along with its histological gonadal development. Mean absolute and relative fecundity was 263,162 ± 31,046 and 273 ± 27, respectively. The oogonia and oocyte diameter ranged between 6 μm and 875 μm with a mean of 318 μm. The relationship between fecundity and total weight was F = 192.85W + 69,291. Monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index exhibited a higher value in May and October in both sexes (P ≤ 0.05). Observations on the seasonal distribution of maturity stages and seasonal fluctuations in the gonadosomatic index confirmed recent findings that the spawning periods have 2 peaks, a higher peak in May and a lower peak in October. The hepatosomatic index and gonadosomatic index fluctuations were similar in females but different in males. Males and females of Saurida tumbil reach first sexual maturity at 25.5 and 27 cm, respectively. The sex ratio was 1M:5F (P ≤ 0.001). The simultaneous presence of postovulatory follicles and yolk globules in some ovaries indicated that this species is a multiple spawner.