Reproductive biology of the totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi), an endangered species in the Gulf of California.

The totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) is an emblematic species endemic to the Gulf of California, which has been protected since the mid-70 s by Mexican and international laws. For the present study, 153 totoaba individuals were collected from 2011 to 2014, on which gonad histology analyses were carried out. We identified six ovarian phases and eleven oocyte subphases in the gonad development of females; in males, four development phases were identified.

Influence of sex and maturity state on trace elements content in liver and muscle of the Sciaenidae .

Background: The fish is endemic to the Upper Gulf of California. Its migratory movements involve sites with high levels of trace elements in the environment that can accumulate in tissues. In this study, lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) concentrations in male and female totoaba liver and muscle were quantified at various sexual maturity stages along the species' geographic distribution.