Listado taxonómico, aspectos ecológicos y biogeográficos de las larvas de peces del Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano, Suroeste del Golfo de México (junio 2011-junio 2013)

A taxonomic checklist, biogeographic data and spatio-temporal distribution for fish larvae in Veracruz Reef System, Mexico are presented. Twenty six stations were monitored monthly in the SAV with 9 samplings in total, in the period June 2011-June 2013. Samples were obtained from diurnal horizontal surface tows with a conical net. Fish larvae spatio-temporal distribution and ecological index in this system are showed. Highest larvae fish abundance occurred in one month of rainy season and 2 months at the end of 'northerlies' season in nearby transects to the mouth of Jamapa River. 3941 organisms belonging to 61 taxa were obtained: 47 to level species and 14 to genus were identified. Atherinopsidae and Carangidae families showed the highest Specific Richness with 4 species each one. The highest larvae fish abundance belonged to Haemulidae family (Haemulon aurolineatum and H. plumierii) which contributes 47.62% to total abundance. With this contribution, the geographic distribution of larvae stage of fishes Apogon aurolineatus, Cantherhines macrocerus, Cheilopogon cyanopterus, Hemiramphus brasiliensis and Membras vagrans towards central and south of Gulf of Mexico and Mexican Sea Caribbean was expanded. New records support connectivity theories and dispersal patterns postulated by several authors between reefs of western coast Gulf of Mexico and Mexican Caribbean. Rainfall and end northerlies season act as natural mechanisms that propitiate accurate conditions for maintaining high larvae abundance. It was showed a substantial number of species in this sampling, however, we suggest alternative methods for record cryptic species, due to habitat complexity in this area.