Gonadal maturity scale of Vinciguerria lucetia (Garman, 1899)

Abstract

Vinciguerria lucetia is one of the most abundant and unexploited mesopelagic resources. In this paper, by analyzing 774 gonads (597 ovaries and 177 testes) collected on the RV Jose Olaya during research surveys in August 2010 and December 2011, a histological gonadal maturity scale is established. The maturity scale for females has five stages and for males has four stages, both microscopically and macroscopically identified. This gonadal maturity scale can facilitate obtaining reproductive data in various circumstances such as field surveys and sampling on board.