A description of gametogenesis in the panga Pterogymnus Laniarius (Pisces: Sparidae) with comments on changes in maturity patterns over the past two decades

Abstract

A description of gametogenesis in the panga Pterogymnus laniarius, a common endemic seabream species inhabiting the Agulhas Bank, South Africa, is presented. After sexual maturity, oogenesis and spermatogenesis continued throughout the year and were found to be similar to these processes in other seabream species and teleosts in general. Analysis of maturity data over the past two decades revealed a significant change in both age and size-at-maturity, a response to fishing pressure.