Gonad morphology and sex succession in the protogynous hermaphrodite Hemanthias vivanus (Jordan and Swain)

Hemanthias vivanus, an anthiine serranid common on deep (70–80 m) reefs off east-central Florida, is shown to be a protogynous hermaphrodite with observed size ranges as follows: female, 49–77 mm S.L.; transitional 65–74; male, 65–96. Sexes are distinguishable externally as the dorsal spine filaments elongate and colour pattern changes with sex succession. In females, lamellae extend from the lateral and dorsal walls of the bilobed ovary into the lumen. Ova mature within the lamellae and at ovulation pass centrally into the lumen, posteriorly into a common post-ovarian sinus, and exit through the oviduct.