In this study, the authors describe a process that consistently identified sex based on differences in the length and characteristics of the urogenital papilla septum of Etelis carbunculus, a deep-water snapper (Lutjanidae, Etelinae). These characteristics, regardless of fish size, were found to be accurate for 96% of 157 specimens evaluated. The application of this external sex determination technique expedites the collection of sex-specific data and may perform well for other morphologically similar lutjanid snappers. The non-invasive method also minimizes damage to the fish, thereby allowing either its return to the ocean or landing as a valuable whole fish.
Keywords: Etelis carbunculus; deep-water fisheries management; dimorphic secondary sexual characteristics; sexually varying life-history traits.
© 2022 Fisheries Society of the British Isles. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.