HASTINGS: BIOLOGY OF PYGMY SEA BASS 



ing behavior in spawning Serraniis. Although 

 no spawning clasps were observed, six specimens 

 were collected, and subsequent examination re- 

 vealed that all had large numbers of ovulated 

 eggs within the lumen of their gonads. These 

 specimens were 41.7-48.6 mm SL. 



Based upon examination of gonads of pre- 

 served specimens, Serraniculus pumilio spawns 

 between March and August or September. The 

 number of small individuals collected during 

 these months is limited, so the size at which 

 maturity of the ovarian tissue is reached was 

 not determined. There is some indication that 

 it may be about 40 mm SL. Seven specimens 

 (34,1-41.2 mm) collected in March were imma- 

 ture, while two (43.0 and 44.2 mm) were ma- 

 ture. One specimen (36.6 mm) collected in 

 April had mostly immature gonads but had a 

 few Stage 4 oocytes. Twelve specimens (40.6- 

 49.5 mm) collected in May were mature, while 

 two (40.5 and 40.8 mm) were mostly immature, 

 with only a few Stage 4 oocytes. A few indi- 

 viduals as small as 23 mm SL contained mature 

 sperm, even though the ovarian tissue was im- 

 mature, but it is not known whether such in- 

 dividuals could successfully spawn as males. 

 Reinboth (1962) noted a similar condition in 



Serranus scriba and S. cabrilla, in which the 

 testicular portion of the gonads matured earlier 

 in the annual reproductive cycle and also at a 

 smaller size. He speculated that S. scriba in 

 their first year of sexual maturity (120-140 mm 

 body length) function only as males and that 

 the ovarian tissue matures only in fish over 160 

 mm in length. He did not demonstrate actual 

 spawning in such first-year males, however. 



All 38 specimens (15.8-48.8 mm SL) collected 

 in February, September, October, November, 

 and December had immature gonads, although 

 one specimen (42.7 mm) collected in October 

 had a few mature oocytes in the posterior region 

 of its gonad. All specimens larger than 43.0 mm 

 collected from March through August had ma- 

 ture gonads. Specimens with ovulated eggs were 

 collected in May, June, and July. 



Nothing is known of the embryonic and larval 

 development of Serraniculus pumilio. The eggs 

 of Serranus are buoyant (Clark, 1959) and eggs 

 and larvae of Epinephelu^ (family Serranidae) 

 are pelagic (Moe, 1969), but it is not known if 

 the same condition exists in Serraniculus. The 

 smallest individual collected during this study 

 (15.8 mm SL) has the general body shape and 

 pigmentation of adults. 







Figure 2. — Cross section through the 

 basal (posterior) portion of the gonads 

 of Serraniculus pumilio showing mature 

 ovarian and testicular tissues. 



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