Development, Occurrence and Characteristics of Egg Capsules of the Thorny Skate, Raja radiata, in the Northwest Atlantic

Wilfred Templeman

Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Research and Resource Services

P. O. Box 5667, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada A1C 5X1

Source - Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science, Volume 3(1): 47-56
ISSN-0250-7408

 

Templeman, W. 1982. Development, Occurrence and Characteristics of Egg Capsules of the Thorny Skate, Raja radiata, in the Northwest Atlantic. J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci. 3(1): 47-56. https://doi.org/10.2960/J.v3.a4

 

Abstract

Data related to the egg capsules of the thorny skate, Raja radiata, gathered in 1947-72 from various parts of the Northwest Atlantic, were analyzed. The development of the capsule is described in relation to the shell gland and the passage of the egg and albumen into the capsule. The egg was present in the capsule when the latter was seven-tenths or more complete. Albumen was always present once the capsule was developed enough to hold it. Occasional complete capsules were without eggs or possessed unusually small eggs. The right capsule was typically extruded first. Capsules in various stages of development were observed to occur generally throughout the area investigated and in all months of the year. The size of the capsule and the volumes of the contained egg and albumen increased with increase in fish length and consequently were greater in skates from areas where sexual maturity began at greater lengths than in areas where sexual maturity occurred at smaller lengths.

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Language - English
Publisher - Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), Dartmouth, N.S., Canada
Publication Date - May 1982
Publication Type - Journal Article
Descriptors - Atlantic Ocean; NW, eggs, thorny skate

Citation: Templeman, W. 1982. Development, Occurrence and Characteristics of Egg Capsules of the Thorny Skate, Raja radiata, in the Northwest Atlantic. J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci. 3(1): 47-56. https://doi.org/10.2960/J.v3.a4