Nichols RS, DeMartini EE, Franklin EC. No butts about it: using urogenital disparity in a deep-water snapper, Etelis carbunculus (Lutjanidae), for field-based sexual identification.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022;
101:1092-1097. [PMID:
35833519 DOI:
10.1111/jfb.15166]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the authors describe a process that consistently identified sex based on differences in the length and characteristics of the urogenital papilla septum of Etelis carbunculus, a deep-water snapper (Lutjanidae, Etelinae). These characteristics, regardless of fish size, were found to be accurate for 96% of 157 specimens evaluated. The application of this external sex determination technique expedites the collection of sex-specific data and may perform well for other morphologically similar lutjanid snappers. The non-invasive method also minimizes damage to the fish, thereby allowing either its return to the ocean or landing as a valuable whole fish.
Collapse