@article{fdi:010060648,
  title = {{R}eproductive biology of the milk shark {R}hizoprionodon acutus ({C}archarhinidae) off the coast of {S}enegal},
  author = {{B}a, {A}. and {B}a, {C}. {T}. and {D}iouf, {K}. and {N}diaye, {P}. {I}. and {P}anfili, {J}acques},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{D}espite the considerable commercial value of the milk shark {R}hizoprionodon acutus ({R}uppell 1837) along the {S}enegal coast, there are few data on its biology. {M}ilk sharks examined in this study were caught by small-scale fisheries on the {S}enegalese coast from {M}ay 2009 to {F}ebruary 2011 at eight landing locations. {L}andings were higher during the warm season ({M}ay-{O}ctober) (71.5%), and lower during the cold season ({N}ovember-{A}pril) (28.5%). {T}he largest landings were recorded in the central area (36.9%) and the smallest in the coastal area of the {C}asamance ({S}outh-{W}est {S}enegal) (0.6%). {T}he observed size of individuals ranged from 31 to 113 cm (total length, {TL}), and the total weight from 150 to 8 500 g. {L}andings mostly included small individuals with a modal size of 50 cm {TL} for males and 60 cm {TL} for females. {A} reduction in the size range of milk sharks in the study area was consistent with those studied elsewhere. {F}emales were more abundant than males (sex ratio 1.65{F}:1{M}). {M}ature individuals were dominant at the northern landing sites whereas immature individuals were more abundant in the southern regions. {O}ur observations suggest a possible seasonal migration towards the north for reproductive purposes. {T}he size at first sexual maturity was 92 cm {TL} for females and 82 cm {TL} for males. {T}he gonadosomatic index, nidosomatic index and hepatosomatic index peaked from {M}ay to {A}ugust, indicating that the reproductive period is during the warm season. {M}ilk sharks off the coast of {S}enegal appear to have an annual reproductive cycle. {O}varian fecundity varied from 2 to 8 follicles and uterine fecundity from 2 to 7 embryos. {P}arturition occurred between {M}ay and {J}une. {M}oreover, the presence of mature spermatozoa in the oviducal glands during the warm season supports the notion that mating takes place during that period.},
  keywords = {elasmobranch ; reproduction ; small-scale fisheries ; {SENEGAL} ; {ATLANTIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}frican {J}ournal of {M}arine {S}cience},
  volume = {35},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {223--232},
  ISSN = {1814-232{X}},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.2989/1814232x.2013.796892},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010060648},
}