Modelling Early Growth of Totoaba macdonaldi (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) under Laboratory Conditions

The totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) is a sciaenid (croaker) fish endemic to the Gulf of California with high commercial importance. Because it was considered at risk extinction (since 2021 reclassified as vulnerable by IUCN), and aquaculture procedures were developed for restocking purposes. present study conducted hypothesis that early stages depensatory individual growth an observed variance-at-age modelling approach best way parametrize growth. Ten models tested including asymptotic, non-asymptotic, exponential-like, power-like curves new one represents modification Schnute’s model. model described trajectory larval juveniles T. macdonaldi in controlled environment sigmoid curve two inflexions, related changes feeding regime.