Abstract
Summary This paper provides data on age, growth and diet of the bluemouth rockfish, Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Scorpaenidae), central Mediterranean Sea. Estimated by otolith readings, ages ranged from 0 to 21 years. Parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth curves were Linf = 26.1 cm, k = 0.14 year−1, t0 = −1.92 years and the growth performance index was Φ = 1.98. The weight-length relationship, W = 0.016 TL2.99; R2 = 0.99, described an isometric growth of the species. This species is a carnivore focusing mainly on the crustaceans Goneplax rhomboides and Lophogaster typicus. Statistical analysis showed an ontogenetic shift between small (4.0–6.3 cm) and larger fishes. Significant differences were also found in relation to the sampling depth.
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