Composition of the ichthyofauna inhabiting the 110-meter bathymetric contour of the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River to the Rio Grande.

The ichthyofauna inhabiting the 110-m bathymetric contour from the Mississippi River to the Rio Grande was very diverse in comparison to the inshore fauna, although the number of species collected decreased off south Texas. A total of 69 species were identified, although only 3662 specimens were examined. Dominant taxa were the families Sparidae, Lutjanidae, Trigilidae, Serranidae, Synodontidae with Stenotomus caprinus, Pristipomoides aquilonaris, Prionotus paralatus, Serranus atrobranchus, and Synodus foetens. Faunal composition was very similar along the 110-m contour except for large changes in abundance of Stenotomus caprinus, Pristipomoides aquilonaris, and Serranus atrobranchus. Abundance of Stenotomus caprinus decreased greatly off south Texas, whereas the converse was true for Pristipomoides aquilonaris and Serranus atrobrachus. The compostion of the ichthyofauna at a depth of 110-m contour is similar to that found on the brown shrimp ground of the northern Gulf of Mexico.