Young-of-the-Year Yellowmouth Barracuda Sphyraena viridensis (Cuvier, 1829) Growth in Eastern Algeria Based on Otolith Microstructure Analysis

Abstract

Age estimates were made on otoliths of 32 young-of-the-year (YOY) Barracuda, Sphyraena viridensis Cuvier (1829), captured in the south-western Mediterranean Sea. Increments were observed in Barracuda sagittae sectioned in a transverse plane and viewed with light microscopy. Increment counts were made for age estimation. Estimated ages ranged from 27 to 299 days of fish ranging in size from 15.9 to 38.9 cm total length (TL). The observed mean growth rate is 3.487 mm.day−1. Decreasing growth performance is evidenced according to age: 3.822 mm.day−1 between 159 and 302 mm (27–139 days), 1.596 mm.day−1 between 352 and 389 mm (172–299 days).