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On the diet and reproduction of the oilfish Ruvettus pretiosus (Perciformes: Gempylidae) in the eastern Mediterranean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2010

P. Vasilakopoulos ,
M. Pavlidis  and
G. Tserpes
P. Vasilakopoulos*
Affiliation:
Institute for Marine Biological Resources, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, Iraklion, 71003, Greece Department of Biology, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, Iraklion, 71409, Greece
M. Pavlidis
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, Iraklion, 71409, Greece
G. Tserpes
Affiliation:
Institute for Marine Biological Resources, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, Iraklion, 71003, Greece
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: P. Vasilakopoulos, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus, is an incidental by-catch of the drifting surface longlines targeting swordfish and Thunnidae in the Mediterranean and elsewhere. Despite its global distribution and frequent occurrence in the catch of many fishing gears, little is known about its biology. In this study we examined the dietary preferences and reproductive biology of this species from specimens caught in the eastern Mediterranean. The most numerous and frequently occurring prey items were benthopelagic fish, followed by cephalopods. The sex-ratio was highly skewed in favour of females (1:8.4), while histological examination of the collected ovaries displayed six developmental stages (perinucleolar, early and late lipid stage; early, middle and late vitellogenesis). Oocyte diameter ranged from 23–69 μm at the perinucleolar stage to 224–366 μm at the late vitellogenesis stage. Spawning is expected to occur during mid and late summer; however there were no individuals available from this period. The findings are discussed in relation to the ecology of the species.

Keywords

Ruvettus pretiosusoilfisheastern Mediterraneanby-catchdietreproductionsex-ratio
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 91 , Issue 4 , June 2011 , pp. 873 - 881
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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