Length–weight relations of fishes inhabiting a hyperhaline coastal lagoon in Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

Length–weight relations (LWR) were estimated for 45 fish species (27 families) from a tropical hyperhaline coastal lagoon and a protected biosphere reserve located in Yucatan Peninsula. The following species were studied: Elops saurus Linnaeus, 1766; Anchoa mitchilli (Valenciennes, 1848); Harengula jaguana Poey, 1865; Ariopsis felis (Linnaeus, 1766); Synodus foetens (Linnaeus, 1766); Opsanus beta (Goode et Bean, 1880); Mugil trichodon Poey, 1875; Menidia colei Hubbs, 1936; Menidia peninsulae (Goode et Bean, 1879); Atherinomorus stipes (Müller et Troschel, 1848); Strongylura notata (Poey, 1860); Chriodorus atherinoides Goode et Bean, 1882; Hyporhamphus meeki Banford et Collette, 1993; Fundulus grandissimus Hubbs, 1936; Lucania parva (Baird et Girard, 1855); Poecilia velifera (Regan, 1914); Cyprinodon artifrons Hubbs, 1936; Floridichthys polyommus Hubbs, 1936; Jordanella pulchra (Hubbs, 1936); Syngnathus makaxi Herald et Dawson, 1972; Prionotus tribulus Cuvier, 1829; Trachinotus falcatus (Linnaeus, 1758); Lutjanus griseus (Linnaeus, 1758); Diapterus auratus Ranzani, 1842; Diapterus rhombeus (Cuvier, 1829); Eucinostomus argenteus Baird et Girard, 1855; Eucinostomus gula (Quoy et Gaimard, 1824); Eucinostomus harengulus Goode et Bean, 1879; Eugerres plumieri (Cuvier, 1830); Gerres cinereus (Walbaum, 1792); Orthopristis chrysoptera (Linnaeus, 1766); Archosargus rhomboidalis (Linnaeus, 1758); Lagodon rhomboides (Linnaeus, 1766); Bairdiella chrysoura (Lacepède, 1802); Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier, 1830); Cynoscion arenarius Ginsburg, 1930; Micropogonias undulatus (Linnaeus, 1766); Menticirrhus littoralis (Holbrook, 1847); Menticirrhus americanus (Linnaeus, 1758); Menticirrhus saxatilis (Bloch et Schneider, 1801); Mayaheros urophthalmus (Günther, 1862); Gobiosoma robustum Ginsburg, 1933; Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards, 1771); Achirus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758); Sphoeroides testudineus (Linnaeus, 1758). A total of 31 011 specimens were collected using a beach seine and a trawl net from October 2004 through November 2005, and from August 2007 through October 2008. Dominant species were Floridichthys polyommus, Cyprinodon artifrons, Menidia colei, and Sphoeroides testudineus. Results indicated a negative (19 species) and positive (26 species) allometric growth. The present paper provides the first published LWRs estimations for Syngnathus makaxi and Eucinostomus harengulus, and a new maximum length record for Hyporhamphus meeki (20.9 cm standard length).

Keywords

• Ría Lagartos Lagoon
• L–W relation
• hy