Distribución, abundancia y estructura de tallas de nueve especies de gasterópodos de la Isla de Cubagua

Lack of information about the biology, distribution and abundance of gastropods around the world has been recognized. These species represent the target of some fisheries, bycatch in many others and also are sold to conch collectors or in the aquarium industry. Venezuela does not escape from this reality and for that reason, this study focus in generate information about length structure, abundance and distribution of gastropods captured in Cubagua Island. A total of 52 stations were studied around the island during the year 2008, where four replicates of bands transect of 50m2 were carried out, for a total of 200m2 of analyzed substrate in each sampling station. Nine gastropods species were analyzed, and the total length of each individual was measured. The most abundant species were Phyllonotus spp. (n=169; 0,016±0,06 org/m2) and Chicoreus brevifrons (n=34; 0,003±0,006 org/m2), followed by less abundant species such as Voluta musica (n=17; 0,002±0,005 org/m2), Cyphoma gibbosum (n=20; 0,0018±0,009 org/m2), Fasciolaria tulipa (n=11; 0,0008±0,002 org/m2), Cyphoma signatum (n=4; 0,0004±0,002 org/m2) and Cassis madagascariensis (n=3; 0,0003±0,002 org/m2). Only three dead specimens of Tonna pennata and one of Charonia variegata were encountered, while no individuals of Cassis flamea, C. tuberosa or Tonna galea were observed. The most aggregated species were Cyphoma gibbosum, Phyllonotus spp. and Voluta musica. Chicoreus brevifrons showed preference for substrates of bivalve beds, whereas all the remaining species did not show any significant differences in the densities per substrate types. The administration and regulation of commercial gastropod catches around this island and the performance of continuous studies about their populations is recommended.