1. College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; 2. National Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai 201306, China; 3. Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201306, China
Abstract: The biological characteristics of red sea bream Pagrosomus major was investigated in 738 samples collected during three voyages in the West African coastal waters from May to August in 2014 to understand the biological characteristics of red sea bream in West African coastal waters（7°E-11°E,1°S-5°S）.The results showed that body length was ranged from 70 mm to 272 mm,with average body length of 166 mm,in the red sea bream during the first voyage; from 85 mm to 275 mm,with the average body length of 178 mm,during the second voyage; and from 103 mm to 231 mm,with average body length of 155 mm,during the third voyage,without significant difference（F = 1.94,P 〉 0.05）.Length-weight relationship showed that the females had better growth than the males did,and that the gender composition of the catch was close to 1∶ 1.The most females had the ovary with developmental stage Ⅱ,and stage Ⅲ,and the predominant classes of the females had corresponding body length of130-150 mm and 150-170 mm,significant difference in maturity among females（P 〈 0.05）.However,the most males had the testes with developmental stage Ⅱ,and stage Ⅲ,and the predominant classes of the males had corresponding body length of 110-130 mm and 150-170 mm,significant difference in maturity among males（P 〈 0.05）.The most fish had feeding grade described as stomach content grade 2 and grade 3,accounting for71% of the total catch samples.There was significant difference in feeding levels among the samples with different body weight（F = 21.747,P 〈 0.05）.
朱清澄, 孙栋, 花传祥, 张衍栋. 西非近海真鲷生物学特征的初步研究[J]. 大连海洋大学学报, 2015, 30(6): 686-691.
ZHU Qing-cheng, SUN Dong, HUA Chuan-xiang, ZHANG Yan-dong. Biological characteristics of red sea bream Pagrosomus major in coastal waters of West Africa. Journal of Dalian Ocean University, 2015, 30(6): 686-691.
2015, Vol. 30 
