Reproduction in the live-bearing teleost Clinus superciliosus

Abstract

By studying embryonic mass increase, yolk availability and embryonic oxygen consumption, it was established that the embryos of C. superciliosus rely almost entirely on maternal secretions for their nutrients anq the species therefore displays an advanced form of viviparity. They breed throughout the year and the species also exhibits superembryonation (superfoetation - sic) with as many as 12 broods developing simultaneously. Furthermore, it was found that the relationships between the body mass and the gonad masses and number of embryos produced, are linear. It was suggested that these phenomena, coupled to the territoriality exhibited by the species, are factors whereby the species overcomes the problem of a reduction in the number of embryos produced, a phenomenon normally encountered in viviparous fishes.