Reproduction and age of Opsanus beta (Goode & Bean, 1880) in anew environment

Carvalho, Barbara Maichak deAssis, Thara Santiago deFavaro, Luis Fernando

Opsanus betais endemic to the Gulf of Mexico and has recently been introduced to the Brazilian coast; probably the introduction is via ballast water and/or oil rigs. In this study, the reproduction and age of the species were recorded for the first time in Guaratuba Bay. The two specimens analyzed in this study were caught by sport fishermen. Sex and stage of gonadal maturation were histologically analyzed, and the age was determined by cross-sectioning the sagitta otoliths. The female showed 29 cm total length (TL) and 396 g total weight (TW), and the male showed 21 cm LT, 168 g WT, and 2 years of age. The gonadal histology demonstrated the female and male as capable of spawning. Despite the small sample, reproduction shows that there is an established population of O. beta in Guaratuba Bay.(AU)

1. Alien species
2. Guaratuba Bay
3. Batrachoididae
4. subtropical region of Brazil