本研究以耳石為年齡形質探討龜山島附近海域之日本馬頭魚Branchiostegusjaponicus的年齡、成長及生殖。1993年12月至1994年11月間於大溪魚市場,共採集417尾標本。體長與耳石徑之關係,雌魚為L=40.12+49.70 R,雄魚為L=35.0+54.87 R。耳石邊緣成長率的月別變化得知一年形成一輪,形成期為1月至2月間。雌、雄最高均可讀至8輪。體重與體長之關係,雌魚為W=2.634×10^(-6)×L^(3.249),雄魚為W=4.042×10^(-6)×L^(3.169)。雌魚之成長參數:極限體長(L(下标 ∞))=425.4 mm,成長速率(K)=0.195/yr,體長為零之理論年齡(t0)=-0.817 yr;雄:L(下标 ∞)=471.2 mm,K=0.186/yr,t0=-0.831 yr。生殖期為5-11月;5-6月及9-10月是生殖高峰。生殖腺指數與肥滿度、肝臟指數的月別變化大略一致,顯示生殖行為會影響肥滿度。空胃率與生殖期有關。肝臟指數月變化為生殖期之指標。雌雄比約1:1,且隨體長增大,雌魚比率有降低之趨勢。
Age and growth of the tile fish,Branchiostegus japonicus,was estimated byexamination of the annuli in otoliths of 417 individuals.The relationship betweentotal length(L,mm)and otolith radius(R,mm)for females was L=40.12+49.7R,for male L=35.0+54.87R.Marginal increment indicated that annulus was formedonce a year between January and February.The relationship between body weight(W)and total length for female was W=2.634×10^(-6)L^(3.249),for male W=4.042×10^(-6)L^(3.169).The parameters of yon Bertalanffy growth equations were estimated asL(subscript ∞)=425.4 mm,K=0.195/yr,to=-0.817 yr for female and L(subscript ∞)=471.2 mm,K=0.186/yr,to=-0.831 yr for male.The spawning period was from May to Novemberwith two peaks in May to June and in September to October,respectively.Themonthly changes between condition factor and gonadal indices were consistent,suggesting that spawning behavior affects condition factor.The sex ratio of thefish is close to 1:1 and the percentage of female decreased with increasing totallength.