The Age and Growth of One Population of Diaphus watasei (Jordan & Starks, 1904) in the South China Sea

We estimated, for the first time, the age of Diaphus watasei (Jordan & Starks, 1904) in the South China Sea (SCS) based on otolith microstructure. According to one-way ANOVA, differences were not observed between the sexes with regard to standard length, body mass, or age. Based on 137 specimens, the sex ratio and relationship between standard length and body mass was 1.32:1 (male/female) and W = 0.0000433L2.78 (r2 = 0.923), respectively. The von Bertalanffy model was fitted as Lt = 171.38 [1 − exp(−0.00206(t − 3.82))], r2 = 0.645 (n = 92), which indicated a maximum growth rate of 0.356 mm/day. The speculated birth date of the 92 specimens of D. watasei occurred across almost all months of the year.