Size at first sexual maturity in Zidona dufresnei (Caenogastropoda, Volutidae) of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (Mar del Plata, Argentina).

GIMÉNEZ, J; PENCHASZADEH, P. E.

JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2003 vol. 83 p. 293 - 296

0025-3154

Size at sexual maturity was studied in Zidona dufresnei through analysis of gonadal tissue samples andsecondary sexual characters. Individuals were sampled during two reproductive seasons (austral spring^summer) in the Mar del Plata area, Argentina. Gonadosomatic index was estimated for males and oocytesize frequency was used to estimate the stage of gonadal development in females. Gonadal maturityoccurred prior to the development of secondary sexual characters. Size at ¢rst gonadal maturity infemales was 12.8 cm shell length and in males 12.0 cm shell length, but size at which 50% of the populationwas mature was 15.7 cm in females and 15.0 cm in males. The results of this study could help to establish aminimal catching size.