An updated checklist and characterisation of the ichthyofauna (Elasmobranchii and Actinopterygii) of the Laguna de Tamiahua, Veracruz, Mexico

Background. Laguna de Tamiahua is ecologically and economically important as a nursery area that favours the recruitment of species that sustain traditional fisheries. It has been studied previously, though not throughout its whole area, and considering the variety of habitats that sustain these fisheries, as well as an increase in population growth that impacts the system. The objectives of this study were to present an updated list of fish species, data on special status, new records, commercial importance, dominance, density, ecotic position, and the spatial and temporal distribution of species in the lagoon, together with a comparison of Tamiahua with 14 other Gulf of Mexico lagoons. Materials and methods. Fish were collected in August and December 1996 with a Renfro beam net and an otter trawl from different habitats throughout the lagoon. The species were identified, classified in relation to special status, new records, commercial importance, density, dominance, ecotic position, and spatial distribution patterns. Results. The 45 species collected by the authors plus an additional 125 species previously reported provided an updated list of 170 species. Families with the highest number of species were Sciaenidae (16 spp.) and Gobiidae (12 spp.). Poecilia latipunctata Meek, 1904 is endemic to Mexico and in danger of extinction and Hippocampus zosterae Jordan et Gilbert, 1882 is under special protection. New records are Ariopsis assimilis (Günther, 1864), Mugil liza Valenciennes, 1836, Symphurus civitatium Ginsburg, 1951, and Aluterus schoepfii (Walbaum, 1792). Commercially important species are Lutjanus griseus (Linnaeus, 1758), Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus, 1758), Bairdiella chrysoura (Lacepède, 1802), Cynoscion arenarius Ginsburg, 1930, Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier, 1830), Cynoscion nothus (Holbrook, 1848), and Archosargus probatocephalus (Walbaum, 1792). The highest densities were recorded for Eucinostomus melanopterus (Bleeker, 1863), Eucinostomus gula (Quoy et Gaimard, 1824), Syngnathus scovelli (Evermann et Kendall, 1896), Achirus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758), and Cathorops aguadulce (Meek, 1904). The dominant species were Cathorops melanopus (Günther, 1864), Citharichthys spilopterus Günther, 1862, and E. gula. Conclusion. The majority of the fishes collected in the Laguna de Tamiahua favoured seagrass beds along ‘costa mar’, the islands Juan A. Ramírez and del Idolo, and areas near the northern and southern inlets. Of the 170 fish species, 10 were present in the 15 compared lagoons, five were recorded only in Tamiahua, and the other species were present in 2 to 14 lagoons. The lagoons most similar to Tamiahua regarding the composition of ichthyofauna were Tampamachoco, Términos, Alvarado, and Madre. This study contributed to the knowledge on a lagoon that sustains local and regional fisheries on which local communities depend.