Reproductive characteristics of the benthic coastal fish Diplodus vulgaris (Teleostei: Sparidae) in the Canarian archipelago, northwest Africa

Abstract

Diplodus vulgaris is characterized by a rudimentary hermaphroditism, with a low proportion of protandrous sex reversal. Male: female ratio is slightly unbalanced in favour of females (1: 1.17), although no significant difference of the relation 1:1 was found. Both sexes have similar size distributions, with females predominating in larger sizes; a low proportion of intersexual individuals are distributed among the middle sizes. A protracted winter spawning season has been identified from November to March, with a peak in spawning activity in December–January. Size of maturity for males and females is attained in the second year of life.