Growth and mortality of Sphoeroides testudineus (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) in a tropical coastal lagoon in northwestern Yucatán Peninsula

Abstract

This study reports growth parameters and mortality for Sphoeroides testudineus from La Carbonera, a karstic tropical coastal lagoon on the northwestern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. A total of 461 specimens were collected between April 2009 and March 2010. We obtained the length-weight relationship and the growth parameters of von Bertalanffy growth model (VBGM) by length frequency analysis. Additionally, mortality was estimated andanalyzed. Exponent b indicated an isometric growth pattern. The growth parameters of VBGM were: L∞= 29.50 cm, k= 0.77 year-1 and t0= - 0.168 years. The instantaneous natural mortality was 1.53 year-1.