Abstract

VARGAS, Carolina; CONTRERAS, Manuel  and  VILA, Irma. AGE GROWTH AND OF ODONTESTHES BREVIANALIS (GÜNTHER 1880) AT LAGUNA CONCHALI (31°53'; 71°32'), CHILE. Gayana (Concepc.) [online]. 2002, vol.66, n.2, pp.199-202. ISSN 0717-652X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-65382002000200014.

Odontesthes brevianalis, a chilean native Atherinidae distributes from La Serena (29°54', 71°15') to Puerto Montt (41°28', 72°56'), inhabiting coastal systems with saline characteristics. In Conchalí system, Los Vilos, IV Region, age and growth of the species population was studied between 1998 and 2001. The species population of this system have specimens that reach 23.3 cm of TL. They present three age groups wich values estimated by scale reading correspond to I+ 8.39 cm ± 0.13; II+ 14.37 cm ± 0.33; III+ 16.87 cm ± 0.18. These values are related to monthly lenght distribution. The population shows a lineal growth without significative differences between males and females. Conchalí seems to be important as a reproduction site of the species wich have been classified as Vulnerable as a Conservation Category

Keywords : Odontesthes brevianalis; Salt systems; Laguna Conchalí.