Protogynous hermaphroditism in the slinger, Chrysoblephus puniceus (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908) (Teleosteir:Sparidae)

Hermaphroditism in the marine fishes is well documented, especially in the family Sparidae in which at least 35 species have been reported. Within this family sexuality ranges from gonochorism, through rudimentary, protogynous and protandrous hermaphroditism, to what is thought to be a single functional hermaphrodite. A biological study of the economically valued Chrysoblephus puniceus revealed marked differences in the size of male and female fish, suggesting that this sparid undergoes sex reversal. Histology of gonads macroscopically classified as ‘female’, ‘male’ and ‘hermaphrodite’ were analysed. Degenerating pre‐vitellogenic oocytes in the ovarian sections of hermaphroditic gonads confirm that C puniceus is a protogynous hermaphrodite.