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How is the morphology of the oviducal gland and of the resulting egg capsule associated with the egg laying habitats of Rajidae species?

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Abstract

Egg capsules of Rajidae species vary in size, shape and adornments. These differences can be used as a taxonomic tool to differentiate species. Furthermore, since egg capsule external morphology is adapted to the environment where they are laid, it can be used make inferences on egg-laying grounds. In the present study, oviducal glands and egg capsules of seven species of skates (Leucoraja naevus, Raja brachyura, Raja montagui, Raja microocellata, Raja miraletus, Raja clavata and Raja undulata) are described and compared, and a taxonomic key developed. The resulting taxonomic key constitute a useful tool to identify skate species inhabiting Portuguese continental waters and, therefore, to improve our knowledge of egg laying habitatsproviding useful information for conservation and management.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank J. Lago and N. Lagarto for helping with sampling. This study was partially supported by the project EU Data Collection/DCR (National Biological Sampling Program).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

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All applicable international, national and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were used.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento do Mar e Recursos Marinhos, Divisão de Modelação e Gestão de Recursos da Pesca, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA), Av. Brasília, 1449-006, Lisbon, Portugal

    Catarina Maia, Bárbara Serra-Pereira & Ivone Figueiredo

  2. Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    Karim Erzini

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  1. Catarina Maia
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  2. Bárbara Serra-Pereira
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  3. Karim Erzini
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  4. Ivone Figueiredo
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Correspondence to Catarina Maia.

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Maia, C., Serra-Pereira, B., Erzini, K. et al. How is the morphology of the oviducal gland and of the resulting egg capsule associated with the egg laying habitats of Rajidae species?. Environ Biol Fish 98, 2037–2048 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-015-0425-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-015-0425-1

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