Biology Of Reproduction and Growth of Sparisoma cretense in the Marine waters of Lattakia

This study aimed at determining the reproductive and growth biology of the Parrotfish Sparisoma cretense, family Scaridae, in the marine waters of Lattakia (Eastern Mediterranean). A total of 50 individuals were collected during the period from 25/10/2021 to 07/07/2022. Age was estimated according to the number of annuli (rings) on scales; CF (Condition Factor), GSI (Gonadosomatic Index), HIS (Hepatosomatic Index) were calculated. The results showed that the sex ratio was nearly 1:2. The results according to GSI variations, showed that Sparisoma cretense might spawn during the period between May and September in the Syrian marine waters, with a distinct peak in GSI values in July for males and in August for females. The variations of HSI and CF values during the study period, indicated that this fish species consumes its nutritional reserves in the liver and uses it to produce its productive products. The results also showed a very strong correlation between the standard length and body weight in males (R2 = 0.8053) and strong correlation in females (R2 = 0.8776). Also showed a low correlation between the body weight and gonads weight (R2 = 0.1155) in males and low correlation in females (R2 = 0.0784). The correlation between the standard length and gonads weight was very low in males (R2 = 0.043) and also low correlation in females (R2 = 0. 0633). Our observations show that the Parrotfish population was not abundant in the Syrian marine waters during the study period. This could be caused by the effect of interspecific competition for food and habitat by the two herbivorous lessepsian fish Siganus rivulatus and S. luridus that were very abundant at the same period.