Age, growth and fecundity of the silver mullet, Mugil curema (Pisces : Mugilidae), in coastal areas of Northeastern Venezuela

We studied fecundity and growth in populations of the silver muller. Mugilc urema, in coastal areas of northeastern Venezuela between March 1992 and Ju ly 1993. The average number of oocytes in gonads of 23-42 cm adults was 54 x 10(4), and the relative fecundity was 1 311 oocytes g(-1) of fish. The si ze of mature oocytes did not vary in different portions of the same gonad ( p > 0.05) or among the adults in three populations studied. The average egg diameter for adults was 426 mum (Cl=4.34). Age of juveniles, collected fro m the La Restinga Lagoon at about monthly intervals, from counts of growth lines on the otoliths ranged from 50 to 240 days. The relation of age (numb er of growth lines) to standard length follows an exponential growth curve. The growth of juveniles varied seasonally and was greatest during the rain y season (April to August), when temperatures were highest. The time of spa wning has probably been adapted so that peak recruitment into the lagoons o ccurs just prior to the rainy season when conditions for growth are most fa vorable.