BATHYMETRIC DISTRIBUTION AND GROWTH-PATTERNS OF BATHYPTEROIS-MEDITERRANEUS FROM THE NORTH-WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Bathypterois mediterraneus was collected on 148 bottom trawls between 147 and 2251 m depth in the north-western Mediterranean. The species a ppeared below 700 m, its relative abundance and biomass increased prog ressively and reached its maximum at 2100-2300 m. A total of 1913 spec imens were measured, ranging From 4 to 20 cm standard length (L(S)). T he size composition with depth did not show any specific trend, and no modal progression could be distinguished in the length frequency dist ribution by cruise, with dominance of large fish (13-15 cm L(S)) and a unimodal size pattern. The otoliths of 173 specimens were examined an d showed the ring pattern common to teleost fishes. The age ranged bet ween 0 and 15 years, although specimens of 4-12 years old were the mos t abundant. The growth parameters and the growth curve obtained from t he interpretation of the growth rings in otoliths showed a low growth rate. (C) 1996 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles