Reproductive biology of the lessepsian Reticulated leatherjacket Stephanolepis diaspros (Fraser - Brünner, 1940) in the Gulf of Gabes (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Fundamental information on the reproductive biology of the lessepsian fish Reticulated leatherjacket Stephanolepis diaspros from the Gulf of Gabes (Eastern Mediterranean Sea) was considered in this study. The study was carried out on a sample of 1,053 specimens of the Reticulated leatherjacket caught by trawlers and were monthly collected from May 2003 to December 2005. The length frequency distribution indicated that males are taller than females. The sex-ratio was 0.87:1 which significantly deviated from the hypothetical distribution of 1:1. The size and the season have an effect on this sex-ratio. Gonadosomatic Index (GSI%) values were highest in July for both sexes and this species accumulates energy reserves in the liver to be spent during the maturity of gonads and the spawning. First maturation occurred at 7.96 cm for females and 10.58 cm (L₅₀) for males. The fecundity of S. diaspros ranged from 28,250 to 218,000 with a mean of 100,778.76 ± 17,702.1. The relationships between absolute fecundity and total length, eviscerated weight and weight of gonads were will described and the correlation coefficients calculated between fecundity and each of these independent variables, are judged to be either significant (R² > 0.8) indication of a very good model for the fecundity study.