eCite Digital Repository
The biology of the white musselcracker Sparodon durbanensis (Pisces:Sparidae), on the Eastern Cape, South Africa coast
Citation
Buxton, CD and Clarke, JR, The biology of the white musselcracker Sparodon durbanensis (Pisces:Sparidae), on the Eastern Cape, South Africa coast, South African Journal of Marine Science, 10 pp. 285 - 296. ISSN 0257-7615 (1991) [Refereed Article]
![]() | PDF Restricted - Request a copy 872Kb |
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 1991 National Inquiry Services Centre (NISC)
Official URL: http://www.nisc.co.za/
Abstract
Aspects of the biology of the musselcracker Sparodon durhanensis, an important shore-angling species on the
south-eastern coast of South Africa, are described from material collected between August 1984 and March 1987.
Juvenile fish live in tidal pools and in shallow subtidal waters, where they feed on a variety of small invertebrates
and chlorophytes. Larger fish are more common in deeper water down to about 30 m, but they also feed inshore,
consuming large invertebrate prey such as gastropods, pelecypods, solitary ascidians, crustaceans and amphineurans.
They are rudimentary hermaphrodites, mature at approximately 350 mm fork length and have a restricted breeding
season between August and January, during which period they spawn small pelagic eggs. Growth studies
based on 5ectioned sagittal otoliths reveal musselcracker to be slow-growing and long-lived. that both sex.es grow
at a similar rate and that they can survive to at least 31 years of age. The specie, is likely to be highly susceptible
to overexploitation even though the fish are not commercially exploited. and more stringent management measures
are called for to ensure the survival of the species as a recreational angling resource.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Research Division: | Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences |
Research Group: | Fisheries sciences |
Research Field: | Fisheries sciences not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences |
UTAS Author: | Buxton, CD (Professor Colin Buxton) |
ID Code: | 48445 |
Year Published: | 1991 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 64 |
Deposited By: | TAFI - Marine Research Laboratory |
Deposited On: | 2007-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2010-01-20 |
Downloads: | 6 View Download Statistics |
Repository Staff Only: item control page