AGE AND GROWTH IN LETHRINUS BONGUS FROM THE RED SEA

AGE AND GROWTH IN LETHRINUS BONGUS FROM THE RED SEA
SAMlRA A. SALEM
Zoology Department, Faculty of science, Cairo University.
ABSTRACT
The annulus is formed in winter and is reliable for age
detenninetfon. The relation betWeen standard length (L ) and scale
radius (S)is described by the equation’L • 2.248455 .14.038189 S. s Thus for beck calculation, Lee’s equation is lIClopted as follows:
L • ( Ls – 2.248455) rn I R • 2.248455. n
The calculated lengths are 13.28, 17.21, 19.72 and”21.65 em
with increment of 13.28, 13.93, 2.51 and 1.39 CII for age groups
I
to IV, respectively. The re~at~on between standard length (in cm)
and we~ht (in g) is expressed by the equation: II I: 0.329536
l2.928 2. The difference between the actual and calculated weights
is narrow in small fishes becoming wider with increase in
length. Condition Factor ranges from 0.882 to 1.110.
lIeight increment is 64.23, 73.01, 67.25 and 64.32 II for age
groups I to IV, respectively. Thus, from the heaviest weight value,
the weight increment is 27X for age group II followed by 25″ for
age group III while Increment for age groups I and IV is slightly
less (24X).