LA CROISSANCE EN LONGUEUR ET EN POIDS DES AMIA CALVA L. DE LA RÉGION DE MONTRÉAL

Abstract

The age of 80 bowfins (Amia calva L.) from the Montreal area has been read from the scales, the gular plate, and the otoliths. Both sexes have the same growth rate. The growth in length of all specimens collected can be summarized in one logarithmic equation: log L = 2.35137 + 0.54922 log A, where L is the total length (in mm) and A the age group. All the age groups can then be described by a particular measured mean length and also by a back-calculated mean length. The ponderal growth is obtained first from the mean weight of different classes, and then from the length–weight relation: log P = −4.961 + 2.992 log L, in which P is the weight (in g) and L the mean length (in mm) determined by back calculation. Maximum length and weight recorded were 870 mm and 6800 g respectively; a 12-year life span seems to be rarely exceeded. The results are compared with those available in the literature.