Age structure of spawners of the axillary seabream, Pagellus acarne (Risso, 1827), in the central Mediterranean Sea (Strait of Sicily)

An unusual catch of mature specimens of Pagellus acarne (Risso, 1827) off the south coast of Sicily (Quadro Bank, central Mediterranean Sea) on October 2016 allowed to improve the ongoing knowledge on the age structure of spawners and other reproductive aspects of the species. A sample of 104 (32 female and 72 male) specimens was examined. Females showed size (range TL1 = 20.5 to 25.5 cm; mean length = 22.3 ± 1.2 cm) longer than males (range TL...