Spermatological Parameters and Length–Weight Relationship of Saurida lessepsianus from the Gulf of Antalya, Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Members of the family Synodontidae are demersal teleosts of ecological and commercial importance in marine ecosystems. Saurida lessepsianus, a Lessepsian lizardfish, is an established component of demersal fish assemblages in the Eastern Mediterranean. Although its distribution, growth, and general reproductive biology have been investigated, detailed spermatological information on this species has not yet been reported. This study evaluated the length–weight relationship and spermatological parameters of S. lessepsianus from the Gulf of Antalya, Mediterranean Sea. A total of 24 individuals collected during the March–April sampling period were examined for biometric measurements and length–weight relationship analysis, while spermatological parameters were evaluated in six male individuals. The length–weight relationship was calculated as W = 0.0047TL3.126, with a strong coefficient of determination (R² = 0.924), indicating positive allometric growth. The mean GSI of males was 2.64 ± 1.62. The average spermatozoon head width and tail length were 3.07 ± 0.54 µm, and 41.57 ± 14.20 µm, respectively. Spermatozoa concentration was 871.83 ± 37.65 × 10⁶ spermatozoa/ml, and flow cytometric analysis showed a viability rate of 61.76 ± 22.67%. Correlation analysis showed significant positive relationships among total length, body weight, gonad weight, and GSI, whereas spermatozoa viability and concentration were not significantly correlated with biometric or gonadosomatic parameters. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first detailed spermatological examination of S. lessepsianus and preliminary baseline data for future reproductive studies.

Keywords

• Invasive
• Non-indigenous
• Synodontidae
• Spermatological parameters
• Reproductive biology

Ethical Statement

Ethics Approval Exemption Statement The authors declare that ethical approval was not required for this study for the reasons explained below. This study did not require formal approval from an institutional ethics committee. The research involved the collection and analysis of fish specimens obtained from non-protected marine areas, and no experimental procedures involving live vertebrate animals were conducted under laboratory conditions. The investigated species (Saurida lessepsianus) is not listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is not classified as endangered, vulnerable, rare, or legally protected under current wildlife and fisheries regulations in Turkey. All sampling activities were conducted outside officially designated protected areas and complied with relevant international, national, and institutional guidelines governing the collection and scientific use of fish specimens. Therefore, according to applicable regulations, formal ethical committee approval was not required for this study.

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