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Life history of the Mediterranean killifish Aphanius fasciatus in brackish water habitat of Algerian low Sahara

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Abstract

The Mediterranean tooth carp Aphanius fasciatus, a strongly eurythermic and euryhaline species, is an important component of the ichthyofauna in the valley of Oued Righ, situated in Algerian low Sahara. This study aims to understand the life history of this species in arid environment. A total of 1868 individuals (16.7–60.2 mm TL, 0.04–26.8 g TW) were collected between November 2010 and November 2011 from Ayata Lake (Algerian low Sahara). Individual age was determined by scalimetry. Some aspects of the sexual cycle are studied. The population was composed of 6 age classes in both sexes. Back-calculations of total length-at-age were suitably adjusted to von Bertalanffy growth model with: Lt = 80.00 [1−e−0.172 (t + 1.377)] for females and Lt = 77.58 [1−e−0.138 (t + 2.236)] for males. The fitted total length-total weight relationship was W = 0.013 L2.848 for females, W = 0.013 L2.809 for males. Spawning occurs once a year between February and July with peak activity in May for Females and in April for Males. Gonado-somatic index reaches a maximum of 4.16% in males and 15.73% in females. The length at the first sexual maturity is 45 mm for both sexes.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the General Directorate for Scientific Research and Technology Development (DGRSDT) for their financial support, within the framework of the Algerian-Tunisian cooperation program agreement, entitled “Freshwater ichthyodiversity in North Africa: endemism and impacts of introductions”.

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  1. Marine Bioresources Laboratory, Annaba University Badji Mokhtar, BP 230, Oued Kouba, Annaba, 23008, Algeria

    Rabie Guezi, Lamya Chaoui & M. Hichem Kara

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  1. Rabie Guezi
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  2. Lamya Chaoui
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  3. M. Hichem Kara
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Correspondence to M. Hichem Kara.

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Guezi, R., Chaoui, L. & Kara, M.H. Life history of the Mediterranean killifish Aphanius fasciatus in brackish water habitat of Algerian low Sahara. Environ Biol Fish 100, 481–491 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-017-0578-1

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