CHARACTERISTICS OF EGG AND LARVAL PRODUCTION IN
CAPTIVE BLUESPOTTED GOBIES
L.A. Privitera-2001
Journal of Fish Biology, 58(5) : 1211-1220
Abstract:
Spawning of the Hawaiian coral-reef goby Asterropteryx semipunctata was diurnal, occurring at various times throughout the day. Mean length of eggs deposited in nests
was 0·76mm (range 0·67-0·84); mean egg width was 0·47mm
(range 0·41-0·52). Clutch size varied from 296 to
1552 eggs (mean=886±309), and was independent of
standard length, total body weight, and body condition.
Mean relative clutch size was 1·59 eggs mg-1total body weight (range 0·84-2·43). Clutches hatched 4-5
nights after being deposited in a nest. Mean notochord length
of newly-hatched larvae was 1·88mm (range 1·60-2·04).
The minimum period of time that elapsed between egg
deposition and subsequent growth of a new batch of
oocytes to spawning size was 5-6 days, providing a reasonable estimate of minimum spawning interval.
Compared with other gobiids, tropical species tend to
have shorter incubation periods, smaller eggs and
smaller larvae at hatching.
(Department of Zoology, University of Hawaii, 2538
The Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96822, U.S.A., Tel.: +1 808 235-7471; fax: +1 808
236-7443; email:plisa@hawaii.edu)