Yoneda et al.: Reproductive cycle, fecundity, and seasonal distributions of Lophius litulon 
365 
stage ovaries collected between December and February, 
was described by the equation 
BF = (-1.64 x 10 6 ) + 3688.13 TL 
for total lengths between 546 and 846 mm (r-=0.86; 
P<0.001) (Fig. 10). Batch fecundity ranged from 0.31 x 10 6 
eggs in a 578-mm-TL fish, to 1.54 x 10 1 ’ eggs in a 796-mm- 
TL fish. 
Seasonal distribution 
In September, most of the specimens from both sexes were 
collected in the Yellow Sea (Fig. 11). Between November 
and January their distribution extended from the Yellow 
Sea to the East China Sea. At this time, sampling sites 
showed a clear difference in the distribution of sexually 
mature males and females. Males were collected mainly 
in the East China Sea, whereas females were collected 
only in the Yellow Sea. During the spawning season, from 
Table 4 
Number of males Lophius litulon in the East China and 
Yellow seas at the various maturity stages of the testes 
by month. Only data from specimens larger than the mini- 
mum size at sexual maturity for males (TL=325 mm) have 
been used in this table. Stage 2 = early spermatogenesis; 
stage 3 = late spermatogenesis; stage 4 = mature. 
Maturity stage of the testes 
Month 
2 
3 
4 
Jan 
22 
5 
12 
Feb 
40 
14 
7 
Mar 
1 
4 
17 
Apr 
3 
3 
5 
May 
4 
24 
18 
Jun 
3 
Jul 
2 
3 
Sep 
1 
3 
Oct 
8 
15 
Nov 
14 
Dec 
2 
17 
Table 5 
Number of female Lophius litulon in the East China and 
Yellow seas at the various maturity stages of the ovaries 
by month. Only data from specimens larger than the min- 
imum size at sexual maturity for females (TL=546 mm) 
have been used in this table. Stage 1 = immature; stage 2 = 
developing; stage 3 = mature; stage 4 = spawning; stage 5 = 
spent; stage 6 = resting. 
Maturity stage of the ovary 
Month 
1 2 (early) 2 (late) 3 4 5 6 
Jan 
5 
Feb 
18 4 1 
Mar 
3 4144 
Apr 
2 3 13 
May 
1 3 2 
Jun 
1 1 
Jul 
1 2 
Aug 
1 
Sep 
3 
Nov 
3 3 
Dec 
5 
February throughout May, immature individuals were 
collected throughout the East China and Yellow seas, 
whereas mature individuals were caught only in the East 
China Sea and the coastal waters off Kyushu, and none 
were caught in the Yellow Sea. 
