Age, growth and food of Cheimerius nufar (Ehrenberg, 1820) (Sparidae), collected off St Croix Island, Algoa Bay

Abstract

Age and growth of the santer, Cheimerius nufar, were determined from otoliths. One hyaline and one opaque ring are laid down yearly. The von Bertalanffy growth function yielded the equation L_t = 953,56 [1-e^-654(t ^{+ 2,6177})]. The length-mass relationship W = 0,00005 L^2,7831 was used to determine growth in mass: W_t = 9790,24 [1-e^{-0,0654(t+2,6177)}]^2,7831. Stomach and intestine content analyses were done, using a modification of the points method, as well as the frequency of occurrence method. C. nufar is primarily a piscivore, but also preys on cephalopods and crustaceans.