The large‐scaled gurnard Lepidotrigla cavillone (Lacepède, 1801) is heavily affected by trawl fisheries targeting more economically valuable species. This species plays a key role in the food web and its potential collapse could negatively affect commercially exploited species. To date, few studies have attempted to provide needed life‐history information for this species' stock status evaluation. With this in mind, we collect...

This work investigates life‐history traits of the long‐nosed skate Dipturus oxyrinchus , which is a common by‐catch in Sardinian waters. The reproductive variables were analysed from 979 specimens sampled during scientific and commercial hauls. Females (10·4–117·5 cm total length, L T ) attained larger sizes than males (14·5–99·5 cm L T ). To evaluate age and growth, a sub‐sample of 130 individuals (76 females and 54 males) we...

This study quantifies the main reproductive features of the long-lived red coral Corallium rubrum, an octocoral endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and neighboring Atlantic areas and one of the most valuable of all marine species, at different depths (38-40 m versus 96-115 m) in north-western Sardinian waters (Central-Western Mediterranean Sea). Different population structures between depths were observed with shallow colonies sm...

A total of 255 longnosed skate Dipturus oxyrinchus caught in Sardinian waters (central‐western Mediterranean Sea), was analysed with respect to fish total length ( L T ), season and depth, in order to provide information on diet and feeding behaviour. Specimens ranging from 93 to 1153 mm L T , were collected at depths between 121 and 671 m, during experimental trawl surveys carried out from 2005 to 2010. The diet comprised cru...

In the present study the life history of blonde ray Raja brachyura from Sardinian waters (central-western Mediterranean) was investigated and the results compared with previously published data on this species. The age, growth and reproduction were studied using 1792 specimens caught between 2005 and 2013. Females ranged from 13.1 to 105.5 cm in Total length (TL) and males from 18 to 96.5 cm TL. This species was sexually dimor...

In this paper, the reproductive biology of the velvet belly lanternshark Etmopterus spinax was analyzed in Sardinian waters (central western Mediterranean). This species was sexually dimorphic with females growing to a larger size than males. Marked sexual dimorphism in size was also observed along the vertical gradient. Histological analysis of gonads was very useful in assigning macroscopical maturity stages. The investigati...

In this paper we report information about the sexual maturity process of 245 Octopus vulgaris specimens (75 females and 170 males) from the Mediterranean Sea. For both sexes, six stages of sexual maturity (immature, developing, maturing, mature, spawning, and spent) are identified on the basis of macroscopic and microscopic observations of the reproductive system and linked with some reproductive indices. A good correspondence...

The spotfin burrfish Chilomycterus reticulatus (405 mm standard length) is recorded for the first time on the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea. The adult specimen was found dried on a beach near the south Sardinian Sea (S. Antioco’s Island). Photographs and morphometrics of the specimen are given.