Life-history transitions of the coral-reef fish Elacatinus lori.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the life-history transitions of the line snout goby Elacatinus lori, a coral-reef fish endemic to Belize. Specifically, this study aimed to: (1) quantify the length of pelagic larval duration (PLD) and standard length (LS ) at settlement, (2) determine the age and LS at sexual maturity and (3) if applicable, determine the age, LS and direction of sex change. Otolith analysis was used to determine PLD, age and LS at settlement, while gonad histology and morphological data were used to determine age and LS at maturity. It was found that: (1) estimates of PLD ranged from 18·8 to 24·8 days, with a mean ± s.d. of 20·9 ± 1·3 days, and estimated LS at settlement ranged from 7·4 to 9·4 mm, with a mean ± s.d. of 8·1 ± 1·7 mm, (2) estimates of LS at which 50% of females and males are mature were 31·1 and 32·4 mm, which represents 65·4 and 55·3% of their maximum LS, respectively and (3) that there was no evidence of sex change: E. lori is probably gonochoristic. This study provides the first comprehensive description of these life-history transitions for a species within the genus Elacatinus, the most speciose genus of fishes on Caribbean coral reefs.