Abstract
The reproductive cycle and sexuality ofLethrinus rubrioperculatus in waters off Okinawa and Yaeyama were studied. The spawning period extended from April to December off Okinawa, but only until August off Yaeyama. Sexual maturation in the species started at about 20 cm FL, being completed in females at 26 cm FL. Spawning intervals were estimated as between 1.0 and 1.52 days from May to October. FL-batch fecundity relationships were also estimated. The species exhibited protogynous hermaphroditism. The smallest male and largest female were 26.4 cm and 41.9 cm FL, respectively, off Okinawa, and 29.2 cm and 32.8 cm FL, respectively, off Yaeyama.
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Ebisawa, A. Some aspects of reproduction and sexuality in the spotcheek emperor,Lethrinus rubrioperculatus, in waters off the Ryukyu Islands. Ichthyological Research 44, 201–212 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678698
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678698