Large lutjanid and serranid fishes in tropical estuaries: are they adults or juveniles?

Abstract

Two serranid fishes (Epinephelus coioides and E. malabaricus) and two lutjanid fishes, (Lutjanus argentimaculatus and L. russelli) are common in estuaries of northeastern tropical Australia. Reviews of the literature suggest that, at least for E. coioides, E. malabaricus and L. argentimaculatus, both juveniles and adults occur in estuaries. The populations of all four species seemed to consist entirely of reproductively immature fish. All fish from the estuaries possessed immature gonads, and for both serranids (protogynous hermaphrodites) all were females. It is suggested that estuaries are important juvenile development grounds for these lutjanids and serranids. -from Author