Abstract

The early life history traits of the labrisomid blenny Auchenionchus crinitus (Jenyns, 1842) from subtidal rocky reefs were studied, based on microstructure analysis of sagittae of their pelagic larvae (4.01 mm NL -12.50 mm SL). Ichthyoplankton was collected in shallow (<20 m) nearshore waters off Isla Santa Maria, Antofagasta, northern Chile every 15 days during austral autumn-winter 2014 (five sampling days). During late May and early June, larval abundance was low (median +/- MAD, 39.06 +/- 5.08 ind. 100 m(-3)), increasing significantly during mid-June to early August (110.98 +/- 47.66 ind. 100 m(-3)). Using 354 sagittae, the back-calculated hatch dates indicated the occurrence of three hatching events, two in autumn and one in winter. Hatching occurred mainly during the illuminated phases of the lunar cycle. All three batches had similar estimated larval sizes at hatch (3.2-3.7 mm SL), as well as similar growth rates (0.19-0.22 mm day(-1)) during the first 30 days of life. During the study period, shallow waters were well mixed, with seawater temperature of 14.73 +/- 0.58 degrees C and salinity of 34.84 +/- 0.04. This is the first estimation of early life history traits of this cryptobenthic species from rocky reefs of Chile.