Perplexing problems of sexual patterns in the fish genus Paralabrax (Serranidae, Serraninae)

Abstract

For 40 years there have been problems in diagnosing sexual patterns in the serranid genus Paralabrax. Difficulties stem from a combination of factors including terminology, histological and morphological characteristics, and the complex inter-relationships in the Serranidae between gonad morphology, phylogenetic position and gonad function. A detailed study of four species of Paralabrax: P. maculatofasciatus, P. nebulifer, P. auroguttatus and P. clathratus, clarifies the problems and improves the diagnosis of sexual pattern in the Serranidae, and for similar families that do not have distinct morphologies for primary- and secondarily-derived males. An hypothesis was developed to account for the multiple appearance of gonochorism in the Serranidae, better known for its widespread hermaphroditism. © 2005 The Zoological Society of London.