Enterolith with a stingray spine nidus in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

In March 2006, a dead, male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was found in the salt marsh in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. During necropsy, an enterolith was found completely obstructing the intestinal lumen. Further examination of the enterolith revealed a stingray spine nidus. Most terrestrial enteroliths are composed primarily of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate); however, the majority of the enterolith discovered in the stranded dolphin was composed of calcium phosphate carbonate. This case provides an interesting comparison of the variation in the mineral composition between terrestrial and marine enteroliths.

Reproductive biology of male franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) (Mammalia: Cetacea) from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

The reproductive biology of male franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei), based on 121 individuals collected in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil, was studied. Estimates on age, length, and weight at attainment of sexual maturity are presented. Data on the reproductive seasonality and on the relationship between some testicular characteristics and age, size, and maturity status are provided. Sexual maturity was assessed by histological examination of the testes. Seasonality was determined by changes in relative and total testis weight, and in seminiferous tubule diameters. Testis weight, testicular index of maturity, and seminiferous tubule diameters were reliable indicators of sexual maturity, whereas testis length, age, length, and weight of the dolphin were not. Sexual maturity was estimated to be attained at 3.6 years (CI 95% =2.7–4.5) with the DeMaster method and 3.0 years with the logistic equation. Length and weight at attainment of sexual maturity were 128.2 cm (CI 95%=125.3–131.1 cm) and 26.4 kg (CI 95% =24.7–28.1 kg), respectively. It could not be verified that there was any seasonal change in the testis weight and in the seminiferous tubule diameters in mature males. It is suggested that at least some mature males may remain reproductively active throughout the year. The extremely low relative testis weight indicates that sperm competition does not occur in the species. On the other hand, the absence of secondary sexual characteristics, the reversed sexual size dimorphism, and the small number of scars from intrassexual combats in males reinforce the hypothesis that male combats for female reproductive access may be rare for franciscana. It is hypothesized that P. blainvillei form temporary pairs (one male copulating with only one female) during the reproductive period.

Diseases and parasites of penaeid prawns of India: a short review

The diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, protozoa and metazoa as well as by other biotic and abiotic agents reported in the penaeid prawns of India are reviewed.

A study of the male reproductive organs of nine species of penaeid prawns (Crustacea: Penaeinae)

This paper deals with the male reproductive organs of nine species of penaeid prawns; Penaeus penicillatus Alcock, P. merguiensis De Man, P. semisulcatus De Haan, Metapenaeus affinis (H.Milne Edwards), M. monoceros (Fabricius), M. stebbingi Nobili, Parapenaeopsis hardwickii (Miers), P. sculptilis (Heller) and P. stylifera (H. Milne Edwards). The male reproductive organs exhibited structural variations, which were more pronounced at generic level. These variations are mainly due to the type of spermatophore they possess. One species of each genus, that is, P. merguiensis, M. affinis and P. sculptilis were also studied histologically to examine the internal structure of the male reproductive organs. Spermatophores of the six species belonging to the genera Penaeus and Parapenaeopsis are also described and illustrated.

Breeding biology and monosex male seed production of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain of Oreochromis niloticus L. in Bangladesh

A study on the breeding biology of the GIFT strain of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, was conducted for a period of five months. The sex ratio of the parent individuals was optimized for performance in spawn production, where the best results were obtained with a sex ratio of female to male of 4:1 compared to those of 3:1 and 2:1. The diameter of eggs obtained from the GIFT stock had major and minor axes of 2.19±0.09 and 1.72±0.07 mm, respectively, with no significant differences between the treatments. The average number of eggs produced was 392±22 per female, with fertilization and hatching rates ranging between 94-96% and 85-88%, respectively. No significant variation was observed between the treatments. Breeding frequencies per female in the three treatment groups ranged between 10-40 days and the highest value was obtained at a female to male sex ratio of 4: l. In an other experiment, l7 aMethyltestosterone (MT) was applied orally to the fry at their first feeding stage with treatments- 1, 2, 3 and 4 at the dosage of 100, 80, 60 and 40 mg/kg feed respectively, for the period of 28 days. The mean percentage of males obtained in treatments, 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 98, 97, 95 and 68, respectively. Treatments-1, 2 and 3 did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from each other but treatment 4 showed significant variation (P<0.05) from other treatments. The results showed that MT-100, 80 and 60 mg/kg feed administered for 28 days produced close to cent percent male population of the GIFT strains in aquaria.

Notes on the external sex characters of Chanos chanos Forskal spawners

In the present study, no visible differences between the sexes of C. chanos with reference to external features such as colouration, shape of head, snout and operculum, presence of tubercles or nasal pores, length, size and shape as well as any roughness in the various fins, could be found. However, the anal region of the mature milkfish (sabalo) exhibits discernible anatomical differences in the male and female. The male has two main openings visible externally: the anterior anus and the posterior urogenital opening at the tip of the urogenital papilla. The female has three main openings instead of two: the anteriormost anus, followed by the genital pore and the urinary pore located posterior to the genital pore at the tip of the urogenital papilla. Internal examinations were also made on both sexes. In ripe sabalo, it is easier to distinguish the sexes since milk oozes out of the urogenital pore by pressing the abdomen of the ripe male fish. Gravid females are identified by their distended abdomens.

Studies on the fungal diseases in crustaceans. I. Lagenidum scyllae sp. nov. isolated from cultivated ova and larvae of the mangrove crab (Scylla serrata)

Lagenidium scyllae , a marine mastigomycete from the ova and larvae of the mangrove crab, is described and illustrated as new. The fungus grew at a temperature range of 16-42 C, with an optimum at 22.5-31.8 C. It grew well in peptone-yeast-glucose (PYG) broth containing 2-3% NaCl. In PYG-sea water medium, it grew at a pH range of 5-11.

Report of the BOBLME Pollution Working Group meeting, Male, Maldives, 2-3 June 2010

Meeting to develop environmental indicators to measure overall health of BOBLME; identify important coastal water pollution issues: produce conclusions and recommendations to form an action plan.

Report of the BOBLME Sharks Working Group, Male, Maldives, 5-7 July, 2011

Validation of available information on shark fisheries. Drafting of workplans and proposals to develop and implement National and Regional Plans of Action (RPOA-NPOA)