Growth and reproduction of yellow mojarra (Caquetaia kraussii Steindachner, 1878) in the Urrá reservoir, Colombia

Objective. Assess the biological parameters of growth and reproduction of yellow mojarra of the Urrá reservoir. Materials and methods. 593 individuals were collected for this study where the length?weight relationships and reproductive biology were evaluated. The length?weight relationship and condition factor were estimated through TW =aTLb and Cf =TW/TLb; sex ratio female: male, size and sexual maturity index, spawning season, oocyte diameter and fecundity were also estimated. Results. The study found 235 individuals were females, 212 were males, 28 were undifferentiated and 118 were not sexed. The length?weight relationship for both sexes was: TW =0.013 (± 0.04) TL3.07 (± 0.03), r=0.99, n=593. The sex ratio was 1.1:1, the length at first maturity for both sexes was 11.0 cm TL, oocyte diameter was 1376 ?m and average fecundity per spawn was 1732 oocytes. Conclusions. Yellow mojarra showed isometric growth in the Urrá reservoir, with an average catch size smaller than from the rest of the Sinu River basin, with no sexual dimorphism in size, prolonged spawning season and partial spawnings, large oocytes and low fertility, with a correlation between the condition factor and sexual maturity index, but independent of the water level of the reservoir.