Reproductive characteristics of the sand sole Pegusa lascaris (Soleidae), from the eastern-central Atlantic

Abstract

The reproductive biology of 1318 sand sole, Pegusa lascaris, was investigated. This species is a gonochoristic species with no evidence of sexual dimorphism. The overall sex-ratio was 1 male to 0.92 females. Females predominate in the larger size intervals, with a significant difference in mean standard length and range between sexes. Size at first maturity for males and females is attained at 17.2 and 17.7 cm standard length, respectively. Vitellogenesis does not begin synchronously for all females, as a consequence the spawning season appears to be continuous. In each female spawning takes place in two batches which are spawned mainly in spring and autumn, indicating that fish are serial synchronous spawners.