The reproductive biology and growth of the Central American cichlid Cichlasoma urophthalmus (Gunther)

Citation

Martinez-Palacios CA & Ross L (1992) The reproductive biology and growth of the Central American cichlid Cichlasoma urophthalmus (Gunther). Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 8 (1-4), pp. 99-109. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.1992.tb00672.x

Abstract
The reroductive biology and growth of the Central American cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus, was studieg in a brackish water lagoon in Celestun, Yucatan, Mexico, between spring 1985 and spring 1986. The fish is strongly euryhaline and reproduces in brackish waters as well as in fresh water, having clear thermophilic habits, and resisting low oxygen levels. The population in the lagoon is constituted by fast growing fish which have one, or exceptionally two, reroductive seasons in their lifetimes. The mean standard length of catured fish was 134.7 mm for mais and 135.3 mm for females but no significant difference was found getween them. A significant difference in the sex ratio was found between summer and autumn, presumably due to the type of parental care exhibited by this species. Examination of ovaries showed that the reproductive season starts in mid-April and extends until mid-November, with reproductive peaks in sprin and summer. The fecundity ranged from 2085 to 6615 ova/female. The minimum size of maturity of females was 102 mm (50 g). Specific attributes of this species are compared with those of some African cichlids and are discussed in terms of aquaculture.

Journal
Journal of Applied Ichthyology: Volume 8, Issue 1-4

People

Professor Lindsay Ross

Emeritus Professor, Institute of Aquaculture