Mass mortality of Canthigaster rostrata(Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) on the southern Costa Rican Caribbean coast

Abstract

In 2017 a mass mortality event of the reef fish Canthigaster rostrata was observed on the Southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The 86 subjects collected, possibly juveniles, were less than 49 mm and below 2.8 g. Similar events have been reported in other Caribbean locations and may be associated with changes in sea temperature or resource exhaustion during their recruitment period.

Durante el 2017, observamos un evento de mortalidad masiva del pez de arrecife Canthigaster rostrata en el Caribe Sur costarricense. Los 86 individuos recolectados, posiblemente juveniles, presentaron tallas menores a los 49 mm y pesos debajo de 2.8 g. Eventos similares se han reportado en otras localidades del Caribe y podrían asociarse a cambios en la temperatura marina o al agotamiento de recursos durante su estrategia de reclutamiento.