250 
Abstract.-By analyzing annual 
ichthyoplankton survey data from 1983 
to 1988, I found a significant positive 
correlation in distribution and abun- 
dance between larval Cubiceps pauci- 
radiatus and the Loop Current in the 
Gulf of Mexico. The data indicate that 
C. pauciradiatus is a species whose 
adult spawning grounds and larval 
habitat are tied to sharp temperature 
gradients. These gradients occur along 
the edge of the Loop Current in the 
eastern Gulf of Mexico and along the 
anticyclonic-cyclonic rings in the west- 
ern Gulf of Mexico. Transects made 
across the Loop Current, in 1987 and 
1988, show that larval C. pauciradiatus 
is found close to the frontal interface 
and that peak abundance occurs before 
peak SST (sea surface temperature). 
Variation in the extent of the frontal 
systems in the Gulf of Mexico would be 
expected to affect annual recruitment 
of a species that is tied to a frontal habi- 
tat. Annual abundance of C. pauci- 
radiatus varied considerably but was 
similar to that of other pelagic species. 
This finding suggests that the physical 
processes in the Gulf of Mexico may 
affect a wide range of species. 
Manuscript accepted 10 October 1996. 
Fishery Bulletin 95:250-266 (1997). 
The Loop Current and the abundance 
of larval Cubiceps pauciradiatus 
(Pisces: Nomeidae) in the Gulf of 
Mexico: evidence for physical and 
biological interaction 
John Lamkin 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center 
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA 
75 Virginia Beach Dr., Miami , Florida 33149 
E-mail address: John.Lamkin@noaa.gov 
Bigeye cigarfish, Cubiceps pauci- 
radiatus, is a member of the family 
Nomeidae (suborder Stromateoidei) 
characterized by Haedrich ( 1967 ) as 
“oceanic fishes of tropical and sub- 
tropical waters.” Fishes of this fam- 
ily are widely distributed across the 
Gulf of Mexico, in Caribbean wa- 
ters, and in the tropical Atlantic, 
Pacific, and Indian Oceans (Butler, 
1979). The family Nomeidae com- 
prises three genera: Cubiceps, 
Psenes, and Nomeus. Nomeus is 
monotypic, Cubiceps has seven spe- 
cies, and Psenes six (Haedrich, 
1967, 1972; Butler, 1979). Cubiceps 
pauciradiatus Gunther is a world- 
wide tropical species and an impor- 
tant forage fish for porpoises (Perrin 
et al., 1973) and tuna (Alverson, 
1963). Because of their oceanic habi- 
tat, cigarfishes are poorly known, 
and only limited information is 
available on their distribution. 
Ahlstrom et al. (1976) described the 
larval stages of five species of this 
suborder, including C. pauciradi- 
atus. All identifications in this study 
are based upon their work. 
In the central and South Atlan- 
tic, Oven et al. (1984) found that 
Cubiceps pauciradiatus was always 
present in the upper sound-scatter- 
ing layer. It was also the dominant 
species in the Gulf of Guinea, ac- 
counting for 46-85% of the catch 
(Salekhov, 1989). Like many fishes, 
C. pauciradiatus migrate to the sur- 
face waters at night, concentrating 
in the upper 70 m. Salekhov (1989) 
reported that they were abundant 
and at times the dominant species 
in night-collected samples where 
surface-water temperatures were 
26.2-28.30°C. Juveniles do not mi- 
grate but remain in the 30-90 m 
stratum. Cubiceps pauciradiatus is 
an intermittent spawner and has a 
life span of 1 to 2 years. Peak 
spawning occurs from December to 
April in tropical waters. 
The distribution of this fish in the 
North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico 
is poorly known. In a 1979 study by 
Houde et al., 1 C. pauciradiatus were 
the most abundant nomeid in the 
eastern Gulf. Richards (1984) found 
this species widely distributed in 
the eastern Caribbean Sea. In the 
central and South Atlantic, Salekhov 
(1989) showed that largest catches 
of C. pauciradiatus occurred in 
tropical waters along the periphery 
of cyclonic gyres, the Equatorial 
Counter Current, and the upwelling 
region of the Sierra-Leone Ridge. 
The Gulf of Mexico contains simi- 
lar frontal areas, such as the Loop 
1 Houde, E. D., J. C. Leak, C. E. Dowd, S. A. 
Berkeley, and W. J. Richards. 1979. 
Ichthyoplankton abundance and diversity 
in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Contract 
Report to the Bureau of Land Manage- 
ment, rep. AA550-ct7-28, 546 p. 
