Reproductive biology of Rhabdosargus haffara (Teleostei, Sparidae) in the Arabian Gulf

Reproductive biology of Rhabdosargus haffara (Teleostei, Sparidae)
in the Arabian Gulf
Heyam Abdulla Al Abdulhadi 1
and Amany M. Osman2
1-Faculty of Science, Dammam,Girls College, King Faisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2-Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt.
E-mail: [email protected]

Recevied 30th April 2009, Accepted 30th June 2009
Abstract
The present study on reproductive biology of Rhabdosargus haffara revealed that the spawning season lasted from
December to March for both males and females. Study of the size at onset of sexual maturity showed that Rhabdosargus
haffara reach sexual maturity at 15.3 cm for males and 16.5 cm for females. The sex ratio was 1: 1.68 males to females
in the present sample. Fecundity analysis revealed significant relationships for absolute fecundity with length and
weight.
Keywords: Rhabdosargus haffara, sexual maturity, Fecundity analysis, Arabian Gulf