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Growth of the Cichlid Fish Tylochromis bangwelensis in Lake Bangweulu, Zambia
Author(s) -
Griffith J. S.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1977)106<146:gotcft>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - cichlid , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , geography , biology
Growth of the cichlid Tylochromis bangwelensis was assessed by examination of scales from fish collected in Lake Bangweulu, Zambia, in 1972–1973. Discontinuities in circuli that appeared to be valid annuli were observed. They appeared on scales of yearling fish in August‐October and on scales of older fish slightly later, apparently in response to changes in lake temperature. Fish reached an average length of 6.8 cm at the end of their first year, and grew 2 to 3 cm in each subsequent year to a maximum age of 7 years. Male T. bangwelensis grew slightly faster than females. A few fish of both sexes matured at a minimum length of 11 to 12 cm at the end of their second year, but most individuals matured one year later.