CSIRO PUBLISHING
Marine and Freshwater Research, 2008, 59, 560–574
www.publish.csiro.au/journals/mfr
Comparison of the life histories of three co-occurring wrasses (Teleostei: Labridae) in coastal waters of south-eastern Australia Jason K. MortonA,B,D , William GladstoneB , Julian M. HughesC and John StewartC A Department
of Science and Mathematics, Avondale College, PO Box 19, Cooranbong NSW 2265, Australia. B School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle (Ourimbah Campus), PO Box 127, Ourimbah NSW 2258, Australia. C New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence, PO Box 21, Cronulla NSW 2230, Australia. D Corresponding author. Email:
[email protected]
Abstract. Labrids are abundant on temperate rocky reefs yet their life histories are poorly known. Three co-occurring Australian labrids (Ophthalmolepis lineolatus, Notolabrus gymnogenis and Pictilabrus laticlavius) exhibited protogynous hermaphroditism typical of labrids. Juveniles reached sexual maturity at 184 mm total length (TL) (2.1 years) in O. lineolatus, 177 mm TL (1.8 years) in N. gymnogenis and
