Abstract

HERNANDEZ-RUBIO, María Cecilia; FRAUSTO-ILLESCAS, Tannia Cristina  and  FIGUEROA-LUCERO, Gerardo. Early ontogeny of Poblana letholepis (Actinopterygii: Atherinopsidae). Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2016, vol.87, n.3, pp.1118-1123. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmb.2016.06.002.

Poblana letholepis is endemic to La Preciosa lake-crater, Puebla, Mexico. The species is endangered because its habitat is under dessication by deforestation, overgrazing and poor irrigation practices. This study describes for the first time the early development of P. letholepis from hatching and metamorphoses, until juvenile phase under the theory of saltatory ontogeny. Fish were mantained in semi-hard water, at 20 °C and 2 ‰. This species reaches juvenile period after 50 dph under these conditions. The embryo free phase lasts 2 dph, at this time the organs and systems are formed, except the reproductive system, and its feeding is endogenous. The larval period lasts 48 dph, its feeding is exogenous (zooplancton), the sex is differentiated, the fins are developed, and the growth is accelerated. This period ends when the fish reach definitive phenotype (juvenile) and they migrate from littoral zone to open waters in the lake. Theory of saltatory ontogeny explains the early development processes of P. letholepis adequately and it defines critical points in the survival.

Keywords : Development; Larvae; Charal.

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