English abstract
Monthly data of length composition for Spangled emperor, Lethrinus nebulosus (Lethrinidae), landed between September 2007 to August 2008 along the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea were used to estimate the weight-length relationship, maturity stage, maturity length and spawning season of the stock. Macroscopically, L. nebulosus ovaries consisted of two cylindrical gonads of approximate equal size. The monthly calculated mean values of gonadosomatic index (GSI) of females were indicate to increase from february, reach the highest in march and decline in june. The peak spawning season of L. nebulosus occurred in march. More than 50% of Spangled emperors were mature at the size of 31 cm. Transitional L. nebulosus gonads were characterized by the concurrent degeneration of all oocytes and the proliferation of spermatocysts near the edge of the lamellae, an increase in blood vessels along strands of stromal tissue within the lamellae and the formation of multiple sperm sinuses. The weight-length relationship was estimated with a= 0.051 and b= 2.722, indicates that Spangled Emperor has alometric growth.
