GROWTH OF CHICOREUS CAPUCINUS (GASTROPODA: MURICIDAE) AT ANG SILA, THAILAND

To test the hypothesis that seasonal patterns of growth occur in tropical marine invertebrates, 954 specimens of Chicoreus capucinus (Lamarck, 1822) were measured and tagged at Ang Sila, Thailand, in November 1999 and remeasured in May and November 2000. Data were analyzed with a von Bertalanffy growth equation. Growth was strongly seasonal, averaging 3.4 +/- 0.4 mm in November 1999 to May 2000 and 0.5 +/- 0.3 mm in May to November 2000. Mean annual growth during the year was 3.8 +/- 0.5 mm. Growth was rapid in the initial year of life to an estimated length of 20.9 mm. Growth slowed considerably in succeeding years, with individuals reaching 45.2 mm in four years and 50.3 mm in six years. A resurvey of the site three years after tagging recovered only three tagged animals from a total of 309 examined, indicating that C. capucinus has a relatively short lifespan. Possible reasons for the seasonal growth pattern, particularly monsoon patterns, are discussed.