Reproductive period and histological analysis of the painted comber, Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758), in the Trogir Bay area (eastern mid-Adriatic)

A total of 798 specimens of the painted comber, Serranus scriba(Linnaeus, 1758), were caught in Trogir Bay (eastern mid-Adriatic) from June 2001 to May 2002 and analyzed. Total length ranged 7.1-20.0 cm (mean 11.0±1.7 cm); body weight ranged 4.21-108.99 g (mean 18.59±10.248 g). Histological analysis of 242 specimens confirmed simultaneous hermaphroditism. The annual variation of gonadosomatic index indicates that S. scriba spawns rom May to August. Descriptions based on microscopic examinations of ovarian and testicular tissues are given