Histological profiling of gonads depicting protandrous hermaphroditism in Eleutheronema tetradactylum

Abstract

The fourfinger threadfin Eleutheronema tetradactylum is reported as a protandrous hermaphrodite from Australian waters, while being a gonochorist in reports from Singapore and India, with a single report of protandrous hermaphroditism from the latter. Histological analysis of gonads of fish from Indian waters confirms protandrous hermaphroditism in E. tetradactylum. The study was based on 480 fish examined from eight locations along the Indian coast. Mean total length (LT) of male fish was 240mm with the transition to female starting from 280mm LT. Specimens confirmed as mature females were >380mm LT