First data on the demography and growth of Millerigobius macrocephalus (KOLOMBATOVIĆ, 1891) (Teleostei; Gobiidae), in Corsica (France)

Abstract

     This rare species found in the Lavezzi Islands (South of Corsica) has never been studied before to the ecological and biological point of view. On the basis of 197 speciments caught at different periods (July 1988 and 1992, September 1989 and October 1990), the ecology of the species is addressed from the aspect of its population structure. The size of the young ranged from 12 to 27 mm, while that of adult males and females varied from 16 to 40 mm and 15 to 36 mm respectively. The demographic structure of this goby, composed of three cohorts, did not change. The sex ratio varied a little according to the sample-taking period (0.44 in July and 0.71 in October). The mathematical models used helped us to establish that the life span of this species is at lest 24 months.