Distribution and reproductive seasonality of snailfishes and lumpfishes in the St. Lawrence River estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Abstract

The distribution of two lumpfishes and nine snailfishes was determined from a variety of samples from the St. Lawrence River estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Two of these (Paraliparis calidus and P. copei) are recorded for the first time. Two others (Liparis gibbus and L. fabricii) reach their southern limit in the study area, while two others (L. coheni and L. inquilinus) may not occur further north. The Careproctus species found appear to be C. reinhardti (abundant) and C. ranula (rare). These species can be distinguished by selected meristic characters, especially pyloric caeca, pectoral fin shape, and size at maturity. All species examined spawn in the spring and summer except L. coheni, which probably spawns during the winter.