SynopsisNearly all male and about 60% of the female Hyperprosopon argenteum from the waters near San Diego, California attained sexual maturity as age group 0 fish. Males matured during fall at 65-95 mm standard length; females matured at N 90 mm during late fall. Females produced broods averaging nine embryos during early April-early June after a 5-6 month gestation period. Brood size was proportional to female size, and was better correlated with weight than with length of female. Larger, age group I and older females became pregnant earlier in the year than smaller, age group 0 females. Males and females grew at equally fast rates during the spring and summer prior to sexual maturity. The growth rate of both sexes thereafter decelerated equally until age 12 months; and growth of males was slower than that of females among age I + fish. By age II, females had attained longer mean body lengths (130 mm) and heavier mean body weights (66 g) than similarly aged males (120 mm and 52 g). Larger maximum female body sizes resulted both from their faster growth during their second year and their greater average longevity.Differences between male and female growth rates and survivorships are related to growth and survivorship within other geographic populations of H. argenteum. Sexual differences in the life history of H. argenteum in general resemble the patterns of maturation, growth, and survivorship within other Embiotocidae.
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