Crecimiento y madurez en machos de una población de gambusias, Gambusia afinis holbrooki (Pisces, Poeciliidae)

Resum

Growth and maturation of males in a population of mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis holbrooki (Pisces, Poeciliidae)
Recent laboratory studies have partially invalidated the generalized knowledge that males of the family Poeciliidae stop growing when they become sexually mature, although many authors still consider this theory reliable. This study uses the seasonal pattern of maturation and length to examine growth of mature males in a wild population of Gambusia affinis holbrooki. Student’s t-tests show a significant difference between mean standart length (SL) of transforming and of mature males. Therefore, it is concluded that males continue growing after they become sexually mature.