Evidence of sequential hermaphroditism in alfonsinos ( <scp> <i>Beryx</i> </scp> spp.) from the deep northeast Atlantic
Among 572 specimens of Beryx splendens and B. decadactylus collected in the Azores (northeast Atlantic), we identified 66 hermaphroditic females, primarily of medium size and at early stages of gonadal development. Hermaphroditism was observed more frequently in winter for B. splendens and in spring-summer for B. decadactylus. These findings challenge the prevailing assumption that both species are strictly gonochoristic and reveal previously unrecognized reproductive plasticity. This has important implications for stock assessment and management, given recent evaluations indicating a low abundance of large, fecund individuals in the population.
Authors
- Ângela Canha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8553-8832)
- Maria Doroti Sousa da Rosa
- Andreia Braga‐Henriques (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6335-2554)
- Mariana Cruz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6798-0208)
- Marcelo Fulgêncio Guedes de Brito (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5346-4074)
- Régis Santos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4167-3573)
- Wendell Medeiros‐Leal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4003-8375)
- Ualerson Iran Peixoto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7078-3424)
Institutions
- Universidade dos Açores (PT)
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe (BR)
- Madeira Tecnopolo (PT)
- Directorate of Fisheries (NO)
- Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Recursos Naturais (PT)
- Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça (PT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Fish Biology
- Published
- 2025-08-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70176
- Primary Topic
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- European Commission
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia