Age and growth of flathead flounder Hippoglossoides dubius collected off Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

Age and growth of flathead flounder Hippoglossoides dubius collected off Kyoto Prefecture were estimated, using body length increment data of 14 males and 120 females from tagging experiments, and the age-length data obtained by counting annual rings of sagittal otoliths from small individuals of 175 males and 186 females. The von Bertalanffy's growth curves for body length (L x, mm) at full age in years (x) were estimated as follows: L x = 267.4[1-exp {-0.185(+0.284)}] for males; Lx = 381.9[1-exp {-0.130(x + 0.136)}] for females. The body length at each age of females was greater than that of males. Based on the growth curves, ages at 50% maturity were estimated to be 5 years for males and 9 years for females.