Journal de biologie marine et d'océanographie

Sex Ratio and Length-Weight Relationship for Five Marine Fish Species from Brazil

M. R. Oliveira, E. F. S. Costa, A. S. Ara?jo,E. K. R. Pessoa, M. M. Carvalho, L. F. M. Cavalcante, S. Chellappa

Sex Ratio and Length-Weight Relationship for Five Marine Fish Species from Brazil

This study estimated the sex ratio and length-weight relationships for five marine fish species, Mugil curema (Valenciennes, 1836), Chloroscombrus chrysurus (Linnaeus, 1766), Opisthonema oglinum (Lesueur, 1818), Hemiramphus brasiliensis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Lutjanus synagris, (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Brazilian coastal waters. Fish were collected on monthly basis by local fishermen using diversified fishing gears, such as, beach seine net, ballyhoo fishing net, gillnets and hand lines. The population of Mugil curema showed the expected ratio of 1:1. However, predominance of male C. chrysurus, O. oglinum and L. synagris, and females of H. brasiliensis were recorded. In general, the b exponent ranged from 2.6243 (C. chrysurus) to 3.3647 (L. synagris). The results indicated a negative allometric growth for the species O. oglinum and C. chrysurus, and an isometric growth for M. curema and H. brasiliensis. Moreover, an isometric and a positive allometric growth were recorded for females and males of L. synagris.