Photo of the Week

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Age, Written in Bone

August 6, 2018
A comparison of otoliths extracted from Black Sea Bass (left), Red Snapper (middle), Jackknife fish (right).

Photo: David Knight

In the head of ray-finned fish, one can find small, bone-like structures called otoliths. These structures have a variety of sensory functions that include detection of sound vibrations in water, movement, and its orientation in the water. As fish age, calcium carbonate will be added to the otolith, forming ring-like structures that can be used to determine the age of a fish, much like a tree will add new tissue each season forming tree rings. Otoliths are the best way to determine the actual age of a fish.
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36 photos for Pisces · Clear

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