Advances in applied research for the culture of Mexican silversides (Chirostoma, Atherinopsidae).

Address correspondence to: Dr. C.A. Martínez Palacios. Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo. Av. San Juanito Itzícuaro s/n, Col. San Juanito Itzícuaro, Morelia, Michoacán, MEXICO. E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected] Received on February 3, 2005. Accepted on September 15, 2005. The family Atherinopsidae consists of 150 to 160 species, and most of them live in marine and brackish water. The genus Chirostoma is divided into two groups: Jordani and Arge. The Jordani group contains all of the relatively large species known as “white fish” in Mexico, while the smaller species belong to the Arge group and are known as “charales”. All members of the genus are endemic to central México and live in fresh water, but they share many features with marine Atherinopsids because of their common ancestry (Barbour, 1973). The Pátzcuaro Silverside (Chirostoma estor estor) is a fresh water fish from the Jordani group. It is an important economic resource in the region and many families live almost exclusively on its fishery. This species is currently in danger due to environmental changes and also because of its high value and demand in the regional markets that induces local fishermen to capture small juveniles and adults indiscriminately. The “charales” are also an important fisheries resource. However, during the capture it is impossible to distinguish “charales” from young Pátzcuaro silversides. All of these problems have significantly reduced the natural populations of these species. In this context, an alternative to increase C. estor estor populations and then to create alternative employment in the area is to develop its culture. However, the basic biology of the species is not yet fully understood, limiting the development of its culture. C. estor estor has been characterized as a strict carnivore. Some authors have found that larvae feed on protozoans and rotifers after yolk sac consumption up to 65 mm total length and then, in the early juvenile