Age, growth and food ofCheimerius nufar(Ehrenberg, 1820) (Sparidae), collected off St Croix Island, Algoa Bay

Age and growth of the santer, Cheimerius nufar, were determined from otoliths. One hyaline and one opaque ring are laid down yearly. The von Bertalanffy growth function yielded the equation Lt = 953,56 [1-e-654(t + 2,6177)]. The length-mass relationship W = 0,00005 L2,7831 was used to determine growth in mass: Wt = 9790,24 [1-e-0,0654(t+2,6177)]2,7831. Stomach and intestine content analyses were done, using a modification of the points method, as well as the frequency of occurrence method. C. nufar is primarily a piscivore, but also preys on cephalopods and crustaceans.