Age and growth in the alfonsino, beryx splendens (berycidae) from the azores (central eastern atlantic)

Abstract

Age was determined in the Alfonsino, Beryx splendens, by counting the opaque rings on the anti-sulcal surface of left sagittae obtained from specimens, 15–43.5 cm fork length (FL), caught off the Azores. Females were from 1 to 12 years old and males were 1 to 9 years old. Von Bertalanffy (VB) growth equations were fitted to data obtained from age-length keys, back calculation, and length-frequency analyses. Growth was compared between sexes and among methods. Growth was similar in males, whereas in females the equations derived from length-frequency analysis overestimated length-at-age relative to other methods. Sex specific growth could not be confirmed. © 1998 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.