Age determination of the grey mullet Mugil cephafus L. and the white mullet Mugif curema V. (Pisces: Mugilidae) in Tamiahua Lagoon, Veracruz

Abstract

In this study, by means of the sagittu otolith analysis, five and six age groups and the relation age-length of Mugil cephalus and M. curemu, respectively, in Tamiahua Lagoon, Veracruz (Mexico), are established. The anatomy of the scales and sugitta of both species is described. The fast growing bands on the edges show that their formation was higher from March to August for M. cephulus, and from July to November for M. curemu. The development of those bands was related to the spawning migration in both species. The constants of the growth equation of von Bertalanffy were calculated for the species and their sexes, using the scales and the otoliths. Differences in growth between sexes were detected; generally, the females reach a bigger size than the males at the same age in both mulle species. The scales and the otoliths may be used indistinctly in the age determination of both sexes of the species; nevertheless, the otolith showed a better tit to the growth equation.