Biology of the Lessepsian Pufferfish Lagocephalus suezensis ‎‎(Clark & Gohar, 1953) in Syrian Marine waters:‎ Length-Weight Relationship and Gonads Development Stages

Mai Masri*(1) and Waad Sabour(2)

 (1). Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(2). Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Mai Masri. E-Mail: mememasri96@gmail.com)

Received: 16/02/2020                               Accepted: 01/04/2020

Abstract

The length-weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for (320) specimens of Lagocephalus suezensis captured in the Syrian seawaters (Eastern Mediterranean). The histological study of gonads at  different development stages was performed. Fishing samples were taken with trammel net at a depth between 3 and 50 m, during April 2014 and September 2015.Total length and weight of each specimen were recorded with accuracy of 0.1 cm and 0.01 g, respectively. The calculated values of (b) were 2.8932 for male individuals and 2.8416 for females. The coefficient of determination (R2) was significant for all individuals. The types of growth for both sexes were negatively allometric. The development stages and gonad maturation, are similar with regard to the tissue structure and the form of gonads, and for the six development scale.

Key words: Lagocephalus suezensis, Lessepsian pufferfish, LW relationship, Histological structure Gonads, Syrian seawaters.    

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