Friday, April 21, 2006
Butterfly Fish Grow Fastest in First Year
Orange-face butterflyfish, Chaetondon larvatus, are common in the central Red Sea from Hurghada south. They feed exclusively on table coral (Acropora) where they are seen in pairs from 4 to 12 m.
New research indicates that these butterfly fish grow quickly in their first year, but that growth decreases in their second and third years. When fish get to three years they stop growing and reach their maximum size of 12 cm. There is no difference in the growth of males and females
Journal Reference: Marine Biology, Volume 148, Issue 5, Mar 2006
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Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more free news, articles, diving reports and marine life descriptions - http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html
New research indicates that these butterfly fish grow quickly in their first year, but that growth decreases in their second and third years. When fish get to three years they stop growing and reach their maximum size of 12 cm. There is no difference in the growth of males and females
Journal Reference: Marine Biology, Volume 148, Issue 5, Mar 2006
--
Subscribe to SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011) for more free news, articles, diving reports and marine life descriptions - http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html
Labels: sealife
# posted by SCUBA News @ 3:48 pm 
