Reproductive biology of the blackmouth catshark, Galeus melastomus Chondrichthyes Scyliorhinidae off the Languedocian coast southern France, northern Mediterranean

Capape, C.; Guelorget, O.; Vergne, Y.; Reynaud, C.; Capape, C; Guelorget, O; Vergne, Y; Reynaud, C

doi:10.1017/s002531540800060x

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Reproductive biology of the blackmouth catshark, Galeus melastomus Chondrichthyes Scyliorhinidae off the Languedocian coast southern France, northern Mediterranean

Capape, C.; Guelorget, O.; Vergne, Y.; Reynaud, C.

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 88(2): 415-421

2008

ISSN/ISBN: 0025-3154

DOI: 10.1017/s002531540800060x
Accession: 033196436

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Summary

The blackmouth catshark, Galeus melastomus presents a wide Atlanto-Mediterranean distribution, and is commonly captured off the Languedocian coast (southern France, northern Mediterranean). The males and females sexually matured between 510 -550 mm and 520 - 61 0 mm total length (n), respectively. The largest male and the largest female were 620 mm and 640 mm n, respectively. There was a significant relationship of total liver mass vs n between males and females. The diameter of the largest yolky oocytes ranged from 15 to 18 mm (16.5 +/- 2.7). Production of egg cases was observed throughout the year, except in September. Egg cases had between 36 and 50 mm (mean: 45.3 mm +/- 3.9) in length without horns, and between 14 and 21 mm (18.2 mm +/- 1.4) in width. Fecundity remained difficult to assess; an estimation based on production of egg cases enabled us to consider 93 egg cases per year as a maximum.