Evidence of sexual maturation in young adult shiner perch, Cymatogaster aggregata Gibbons (Perciformes, Embiotocidae). American Museum novitates ; no. 2479

Abstract

"Examination of Cymatogaster aggregata collected in Bodega Bay, California revealed that many young males, 5.0 to 6.0 cm. in length, become sexually mature during the first summer after birth and that females, 4.0 to 5.0 cm. in length, receive spermatozoa that can be found in their ovaries. he males are not sexually mature at birth. Fertilization in the adults occurs during the summer; all females in the collection made in late October were found to harbor spermatozoa in their ovaries. The implications of these findings are discussd"--P. [1].