Gonadal histology and variation in gonadosomatic index in captive moonfish Mene maculata

Spawning-capable female Mene maculata shows asynchronous ovarian development with multiple oocyte stages co-occurring, and its GSI matches prior spawning-season estimates.

• Why it matters: Interpreting gonadosomatic index as spawning-capable status is uncertain because histological validation for M. maculata has been limited.
• What they did: In captive M. maculata, gonadal histology was used to assess germ cell development, and relationships between GSI, standard length, and spawning-capable status were evaluated.
• The result: Males were spawning capable at GSI values lower than previously linked to the inferred spawning season, implying male status may persist beyond periods suggested by elevated GSI alone.

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