Observations on the lifespans of several species of annual fishes and of the world's smallest fishes

Abstract

Three species of South American annual fishes ( Cynolebias adloffi, C. bellottii and C. wolterstorffi) were maintained in the laboratory at 15–16°C and 20–22°C. They grew faster, reached a larger eventual size and lived up to twice as long at the lower temperature range. Two species of gobies, collected as adults and representing the smallest known species of vertebrates, lived one to two years in the laboratory. The potential lifespan of these minute fish is probably greater than that of the annuals, suggesting that a strict relationship between body size and longevity does not obtain in teleosts.