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6966083 
Journal Article 
ON THE SEXUAL MATURITY OF THE BOGUE (BOOPS BOOPS) (TELEOSTEI, SPARIDAE) FROM THE PORTUGUESE COAST 
Gordo, LS; , 
1995 
Scientia marina
ISSN: 0214-8358
EISSN: 1886-8134 
INST CIENCIAS MAR BARCELONA 
BARCELONA 
279-286 
Gonads of 1991 bogues, Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758), caught off the western coast of Portugal (Peniche) and 1716 off the southern coast (Algarve), and measuring 6-36 cm total length, were used to analyse sexual maturity. Study of the annual sexual cycle showed that: a) females from Peniche and Algarve started the sexual cycle about one month later than males; b) in Algarve, both females and males initiated and finished their sexual cycle earlier than females and males from Peniche; and c) the spawning season occurred between February and May in Algarve and between March and June in Peniche. The gonadosomatic index allowed greater precision on definition of maturity stages and confirmation of the spawning season. The hepatosomatic index showed that the liver seemed not to have a direct influence in vitellogenesis. The relative condition factor was not affected by the annual sexual cycle as was revealed by the small oscillations of its value occurring between January and July. Length at first maturity varied between 13 and 15 cm, depending on whether males from the southern coast or females from the western coast were considered.