This study investigated, for the first time, the age and growth of the spotted lanternfish Myctophum punctatum through an analysis of otolith microstructure. A total of 377 individuals were collected from the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean Sea), ranging between 20.3 and 73.7 mm of standard length. Their length–weight relationship was estimated, and these outputs indicated an isometric growth, for all specimens and when males and females were analysed separately. The sagittal otoliths were removed from 185 fish, although the microincrement readings were considered valid for only 173 otoliths. Microincrement counts ranged from 32 to 48 (average = 37.6) in the otolith central zone, 30 to 56 (average = 44.3) in the middle zone, and 36 to 384 (average = 165.5) in the external zone. Overall, total microincrements ranged between 106 and 469. Different growth models (Gompertz, von Bertalanffy and logistic models) were considered, to understand which one fit best in describing the growth patterns in M. punctatum. The Gompertz model was then selected as the best-fitting model and its parameters for all individuals were L_∞ = 74.79, k = 0.0084 and I = 139.60.

中文翻译：

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斑点灯笼鱼 Myctophum punctatum Rafinesque 1810 的年龄、生长和耳石显微结构

本研究首次通过耳石微结构分析研究了斑点灯笼鱼Myctophum punctatum的年龄和生长情况。从墨西拿海峡（地中海中部）总共收集了 377 只个体，标准长度在 20.3 到 73.7 毫米之间。估计它们的长度-体重关系，并且这些输出表明所有标本以及分别分析男性和女性时的等长生长。这 从 185 条鱼中去除矢状耳石，尽管微增量读数被认为仅对 173 条耳石有效。耳石中心区的微增量计数范围为 32 到 48（平均 = 37.6），中间区为 30 到 56（平均 = 44.3），外部区为 36 到 384（平均 = 165.5）。总体而言，总微增量介于 106 和 469 之间。考虑了不同的生长模型（Gompertz、von Bertalanffy 和逻辑模型），以了解哪种模型最适合描述M. punctatum的生长模式。然后选择 Gompertz 模型作为最佳拟合模型，其所有个体的参数为L _∞ = 74.79，k = 0.0084和I = 139.60。