Presencia de Poecilia mexicana Steindachner en un estuario hiperhalino temporal del golfo de México

Abstract

In this contribution, Poecilia mexicana is recorded for the first time in a blind estuary study under hyperhalin conditions in the Gulf of Mexico and various ecological characteristics of the species are analyzed. 170 specimens in total (128 females and 42 males), were collected in May 2013 in the Laguna El Llano estuary, Veracruz, Mexico, which presented warm waters (31.4 °C), well-oxygenated (9.45 mg/L), transparent, and hyperhaline (average 73 UPS). Females were collected in a size range of 4.28-59.21 mm in standard length and 0.04-5.48 g by weight; males were collected in a size range of 15.73-51.41 mm LP and 0.091-2.97 g by weight. Largest size range was 10-29 mm standard length. The females presented a negative allometric growth; the males presented an isometric growth. Hyperhalinity of the water did not seem to affect the reproduction process of P. mexicana, since mature females were found with oocytes, eggs, and embryos, some of them presenting superfetation. Fertility was recorded between 12-179 oocytes/female, 8-162 eggs/female and 29-72 embryos/female. Condition factor was positively correlated with the standard length and weight. This species can be classified as a detritivorous consumer that supplements its diet with minimal proportions of diatoms.