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Age Determination of Fish
 Knowledge of fish age is necessary for stock assessment and
studying the population dynamics .
 So , researchers interested in determining fish age look for
structures which increase with age .
 The most widely used techniques involve counting natural
growth rings found on structures as ( scales , otoliths ,
vertebrae , operculum , etc…
1- vertebrae & Operculum
 Cut the operculum or the centrum of vertebrae into number of
rings by jewellery saw .
 Slices are placed in glycerin in glass slide under microscope .
2- otoliths
 Fish otoliths are earbones of teleost or bony fish.
 Function in hearing and equilibrium .
 Fish has 3 paires of otoliths : 1- Lapilli 2-sagitta 3- astersci
 The sagittal otolith is that used for age determination of most
fish ..
3- Scales
 Are the most widely used for the determination of bony fish
age , which are provided with cycloid and ctenoid scales
 The structure of scales and its development is useful in
determining growth rate .
age determination