Lj. Natanson et al., AGE AND GROWTH-ESTIMATES FOR THE DUSKY SHARK, CARCHARHINUS-OBSCURUS, IN THE WESTERN NORTH-ATLANTIC OCEAN, Fishery bulletin, 93(1), 1995, pp. 116-126
Age and growth of the dusky shark, Carcharhinus obscurus, was estimate
d from bands in the vertebral centra of 122 individuals and from lengt
h-frequency data from 341 individuals. The von Bertalanffy growth func
tion parameters from the vertebral analysis were considered more robus
t (L(infinity) = 373, K = 0.038, t0 = -6.28, male; L(infinity) = 349,
K = 0.039, t0 = -7.04, female). Comparison of male and female growth c
urves generated from vertebral data indicate a statistically significa
nt difference; however, these differences are due primarily to larger
sizes attained by adult females. Estimates of age at maturity indicate
that dusky sharks follow the typical carcharhinid pattern of slow gro
wth and late age at maturity. The size at maturity is reported at 231
cm FL and 235 cm FL for males and females, respectively. These lengths
correspond to approximately 19 years for males and 21 years for femal
es. The oldest fish aged from vertebrae was a 33+ year-old female.