Age and growth of the sand smelt Atherina (Hepsetia) presbyter Cuvier, 1829 in the Canary Islands (Central-east Atlantic)

Abstract

Age and growth of Atherina (Hepsetia) presbyter off the Canary Islands (Central-east Atlantic) were studied by sampling carried out between July 1995 and June 1996. Individuals ranged in size between 14.5 and 115.5 mm total length, mainly between 25.0 and 70.0 mm. A translucent zone and its adjacent opaque zone were deposited each year on the otoliths. The translucent zone is formed during the winter months, when the temperature of the sea is lowest and the spawning takes place in the species, and the opaque zone during the summer months, when temperature is highest. Fish aged 0–3 year old were found. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for all individuals are: L∞=121.81 mm, k=0.79 year−1, and t0=−0.21 year. Individuals grow fast during the first year of life, attaining approximately 60% of their maximum observed length; after the first year, the annual growth rate drops quickly. The length–frequency analysis provided very satisfactory results and demonstrated the validity of using otoliths for estimating age and growth.