Reproductive biology of the greeneye spurdog Squalus chloroculus (Squaliformes, Squalidae)

Abstract

The reproduction of the greeneye spurdog Squalus chloroculus was studied based on animals caught in the multispecies and multi-gear southern and eastern scalefish and shark fishery on the upper continental slope off southern Australia. One hundred and ninety-nine females (502-990 mm, total length, LT ) and 189 males (515-810 mm LT ) were examined. The female reproductive cycle, based on 41 breeding animals, is continuous and triennial, with the pregnancy period estimated to be 31-34 months, seasonal and synchronous with the ovarian cycle; a third of the breeding female population is estimated to give birth between September and December each year. The estimated LT at which 50% of females are..