Age and growth of lizardfishes (Saurida spp.) From The northwestern Bay of Bengal

Abstract

Legnth-frequency study shows that 5. tumbil may grow to 170/190, 270/ 290, 350/370 and 410/430 mm respectively at the end of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year. These growth rates are similar to those estimated for fish in the East China and Yellow seas, where it is known to attain a size of 550-560 mm in 5 to 6 years, the maximum size recorded there being 636 mm (fork length). Specimens above 450 mm were, however, not observed in the trawl catches from the Bay of Bengal. Von Bertalanffy equation for growth in length was fitted for length-at-age data of S. tumbil and the values of various parameters were estimated as K = 0.249; t, = -0.334; L a = 637 mm. S. iindosquamis may attain a size of 170/190 and 270/290 mm at the end of 1st and 2nd year, respectively. Specimens above 340 mm were not recorded, and the life span in this species therefore may be 3 years.