Validation of daily sagittal increments in the golden-spotted rabbitfish Siganus guttatus (Bloch) using known-age larvae and juveniles

摘要

The study presents a first report on the validation of otolith increment in the golden-spotted rabbitfish Siganus guttatus. The formation of daily sagittal growth increments in S. guttatus was validated using hatchery-reared larvae and juveniles collected from day of hatching to day 35. Mean increments were 5.6, 13.1, 24.5 and 34.8 for the 7, 15, 25 and 35 day-old fish, respectively. The results demonstrated that sagittal increments were formed daily and thus can be used to determine the age in days of the species.