Salim Mouffok

• Biodiversity Journal, 3 (1): 041-048

  Ahlem Amina Taleb Bendiab, Salim Mouffok & Zitouni Boutiba
  Reproductive biology and growth of Lesser Spotted Dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758) in Western Algerian coasts (Chondrichthyes, Scyliorhinidae)

  ABSTRACT
  Elasmobranch fishes have a large distribution. At the level of the Mediterranean fisheries, a low density of elasmobranchs is noted at the assemblages, these fisheries appearing near to the point of best efficiency or even to over-exploitation. Indeed, a general decline of shark populations was observed over the last decade on the Mediterranean coast. The aim of this work was to evaluate different biological characteristics of the species Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758). A sampling of 461 specimens was realized between September 2009 and August 2010 from the western coast of Algeria. The oviduco-somatic index OSI, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and the condition factor (Kn) were estimated monthly for 249 females to identify the reproduction period. Obtained results show a rapid maturation from September to November and from February to April when the Kn values are very low.

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