The biology of the scaldfish, <i>Arnoglossus laterna</i> (Walbaum) on the west coast of Scotland.

Abstract

The biology of a Scottish population of the small bothid flatfish, Arnoglossus laterna , was studied from January 1975 until September 1976. The data were taken from monthly samples totalling over 500 fish trawled in 18–36 m on a soft mud bottom. Otoliths were used for age determination and a growth curve was constructed which showed that most growth occurs in the first 2–3 years of life. The maximum age recorded was 8+ years. The fish first mature sexually in their second year at a standard length of 6–7 cm and the short spawning season lasts from the late June to August. Fecundity is length‐dependent and the relationship could be described by the regression equation: log fecundity = 3·3472 log standard length (mm) ‐2·1064. The diet consists mainly of decapod crustaceans (particularly crangonid shrimps), polychaetes, mysids and small fish.