Age and Growth of Anglerfish Lophius litulon in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea

Abstract

Age and growth of anglerfish Lophius litulon were examined using vertebral centra from specimens collected in the East China and Yellow Seas during January 1991 to April 1996. Monthly changes in the percentage frequency of a translucent band on the outer margin of centrum and the marginal increments indicated that ring formation occurred once a year mostly in April. Back-calculated total lengths for each sex were calculated by the regression method using a standardized ring radius. The initial growth trend based on monthly collected young fish (≦250 mm in total length) were compatible with the mean back-calculated total lengths from vertebral centra for males and females at the first and second ring marks. Growth of anglerfish was expressed as TLt=1130 (1-e-0.080(t+0.401)) (t≦8) for males and TLt=1547 (1 -e-0.064(t+0.345)) (t≦13) for females using the back-calculated total lengths. Our results suggested females grow faster and live longer than males.