Growth, reproduction and food habits of stellifer melanocheir (Sciaenidae) in golfo de tortugas, colombian pacific

Abstract

Stellifer melanocheir fish is abundant in the bycatch of artisanal shallow water shrimp fisheries. A total of 751 individuals (540 females, 187 males and 24 undetermined) were collected between September 2011 and April 2012 by artisanal shallow water shrimp fisheries at Golfo de Tortugas, Colombia, to study growth, reproduction and feeding habits of the species. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters Lt = 17.8 (1-e[−0.62(t+0.34)]) showed that S. melanocheir exhibits an allometrically positive growth, faster than some congeneric species. The females reach the mean size of maturity (L50) at 11.7 cm and the males at 10.9 cm. It is continuously reproducing with a maximum activity between September and November and another minor reproductive pulse in March, probably related with periods of increased precipitation. The diet is similar during its juvenile and adult stage, with a narrow trophic spectrum, carcinophagus, with benthopelagic habits. Its main prey are copepods with occasional occurrence of shrimp, which increase in the largest individuals.