Rapid reproductive analysis and length-weight relations of three reef fishes (Actinopterygii: Perciformes and Tetraodontiformes) from a remote site in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

We present length-weight relations (LWR) and use rapid, low-cost histological methods to describe the reproductive biology of three reef fishes from a remote area in Papua New Guinea: the striped monocle bream, Scolopsis lineata Quoy et Gaimard, 1824; the Indian goatfish, Parupeneus indicus (Shaw, 1803); and the blackbelly triggerfish, Rhinecanthus verrucosus (Linnaeus, 1758). The LWR for Scolopsis lineata is W = 0.0191FL3.02. Male L50 is 11.2 and female L50 is 13.5 cm FL. Overall sex ratio is female biased; however, for mature individuals, females dominate size-classes from 13 through 15 cm and males dominate smaller and larger size classes. This species is a batch-spawning, protogynous hermaphrodite. The LWR for Parupeneus indicus is W = 0.00904FL3.25. Male Lm is 14.7 and female L50 is 18.4 cm FL. Overall sex ratio is 1: 1; however, for mature individuals, females dominate size-classes from 17 through 22 cm and males dominate smaller and larger size classes. This species is a batch-spawning gonochore. BF = 4.62FL2.95. The LWR for Rhinecanthus verrucosus is W = 0.0257TL2.97. Male L50 is 13.0 and female L50 is 14.1 cm TL. Overall sex ratio is female biased; however, mature individuals are male biased ≥ 16.1 cm TL and, effectively, exclusively male ≥ 17.6 cm. This species is a batch-spawning gonochore. BF = 3.35 ∙ 10-19TL19.4.