Evidence of protandry in a subantarctic notothenid, <i>Eleginops maclovinus</i> (Cuv. &amp; Val., 1830) from the Beagle Channel, Argentina

Abstract

Gonads of Eleginops maclovinus (Cuv. &amp; Val., 1830) from the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina) were sampled weekly throughout the year and histologically analysed. Gonads containing solely or mostly testicular tissue were predominant in each length class smaller than 40 cm (80 to 100%). Sex ratio was almost 1:1 in fishes ranging from 41 to 45cm. Females were dominant in specimens larger than 46cm (80 to 100%). Four testicular types are described according to maturation degree and absence or presence of female cells, one intermediate gonadal type and one typical ovarian type. It is concluded that this species is a protandrous hermaphrodite.