Validation of daily otolith increment formation in the larval myctophid fish <i>Diaphus</i> slender‐type spp.

Abstract

The marginal increment growth in sagittal otoliths of the myctophid larvae Diaphus slender‐type spp. collected in the north‐eastern East China Sea was examined based on specimens collected at different times of the day. The calcification of the incremental zone began after midnight and took place throughout the day, and the discontinuous zone was formed only around midnight. These results indicate that otolith increments are formed daily.