Age and feeding habits of Atlantic spotted flounder Citharus linguatula (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pisces: Pleuronectiformes) from central Aegean Sea of Turkey.

Age and feeding habits of Atlantic spotted flounder, Citharus linguatula, from Izmir Bay (central Aegean Sea coast of Turkey) were studied. Total length ranged between 6.8 and 23.2 cm. Overall female: male ratio was 1:1.34 and age distribution of the samples I and IV years (otolith readings). Atlantic spotted flounder grew positively allometrically (b=3.273±0.031, 95% confidence level). Growth parameters of the C. linguatula population were: L_∞=26.21 cm, K=0.301 year^-1, t₀=-0.621 years for all individuals. Growth index (Φ') was calculated as 2.32. Stomach analyses indicated that the species feeds on four major groups of prey: Polychaeta, Crustacea, Mollusca and Teleostei. According to a Bray-Curtis similarity index for ages, two groups were formed based on index percentage of relative importance of food items; I, II and III age groups constituted the first similarity and IV the second one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]