Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

1992

Journal

Fishery Bulletin

Volume

90

Issue

2

First Page

217

Last Page

230

Abstract

Age, growth, and reproduction were studied in goosefish Lophius americanus collected from National Marine Fisheries Service groundfish surveys and commercial fishing cruises between Georges Bank and Cape Hatteras in the western North Atlantic. Age and growth of L. americanus were determined from vertebral annuli, which became visible at the edge of the vertebral centra in May. Maximum ages of males and females were 9 and 11 years, respectively. Males appeared to experience higher mortality than females in the older age-classes. Von Bertalanffy growth curves calculated for males and females had excellent agreement with back-calculated lengths. The growth rate of L. americanus was intermediate to its eastern Atlantic congeners, L. piscatorius and L. budegassa. Male L. americanus matured at 3+ years (approximately 370 mm TL) and females at 4+ years (approximately 485 mm TL). Spawning took place primarily in May and June. Fecundity in 17 individuals of 610-1048 mm TL ranged from 300,000 to 2,800,000 ova, and was linear with total length in that size range. Histological examination of the ovaries showed they are remarkably similar to ovaries of other lophiiform species. Females produced egg veils, which may function in dispersion, buoyancy, facilitating fertilization, and protection of the eggs and larvae.

Keywords

Egg

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