First data on the age, growth processes, and otoliths of snub-nosed spiny eel Notacanthus chemnitzii (Notacanthidae)

Abstract

This is the first work on the age, developmental stages, and otoliths of snub-nosed spiny eel Notacanthus chemnitzii (Notacanthidae), a rare fish species inhabiting the waters of southwestern Greenland. The mean age of 14 studied fishes (with a length of 36–104 cm and a mass of 74–3834 g) varied in the range from 11 to 26 years. Since the duration of leptocephalus stage is unknown, the real age can be greater. The length of snub-nosed spiny eel can reach 122 cm; thus, its maximal age can be more than 30 years. The minimal length of mature females was 55 cm (18 years); the minimal length of mature males was 66 cm (14 years).