Chelidonichthys lucerna. In: Sartor P., Mannini A., Carlucci R., Massaro E., Queirolo S., Sabatini A., Scarcella G.,

The maximum length reported in literature is 77.1 cm TL (Adriatic sea), the maximum weight 6.0 kg, reported in France. The maximum reported age is 15 years. In the Adriatic Sea, the size structure highlights two main cohorts . A relationship between size, depth and season was highlighted for centralnorthern Adriatic where juveniles concentrate in shallow coastal waters during summer, probably thanks to food abundance, in compliance with literature Von Bertalanffy growth function parameters showed that Chelidonichthys lucerna is a relatively fast-growing and moderately long-living species, like other triglids . Females seem to have a slightly faster growth rate than males and reach larger maximum size at the same age along Tuscany coast. It was suggested that length-weight relationships may vary according to factors such as food availability, feeding rate, gonad development and spawning period. The b values, calculated for the Italian seas, range from 2.86 to 3.14 (Tuscan coast and Sicilian Channel) (for both genders). In males the values of b range between 2.73 and 3.12 (Sicilian Channel and southern Tyrrhenian Sea), in females from 2.95 to 3.14 (Adriatic Sea and Sicilian Channel). A comparison between size-weight relationships, made in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia) through a covariance analysis, showed significant differences between males and females. This result differs from what was observed by other Authors in several areas. A morphometric and ultrastructural study of otoliths within the Triglidae family in centralnorthern Adriatic Sea, shows intra and interspecific changes in otolith shape linked to growth, species, sex and phylogenesis. A similarity can be found between species belonging to the same Genus, while differences between phylogenetically distinct species (e.g. L. cavillone and C. lucerna) and intraspecific differences between juveniles and adults were evidenced. Typically, males of the Triglidae family, C. lucerna included, mature earlier and at a smaller size than females. In the central-northern Adriatic Sea, sizes at 50% of sexual maturity, were estimated in 24.3 cm TL for females and 22.1 cm TL for males. Males mature at 19.2 cm TL (1.5 years old) whilst females mature at 21.6 cm TL (about 3 years old). It is observed that in Aegean Sea that maturity begins at the end of the third year for males and of the fourth year for females. Reproduction takes place along the Italian coasts between December and May, whilst along the French Mediterranean coast it occurs between January and April. It is proved the existence of a time-lag for reproductive processes of C. lucerna between the Mediterranean and North Atlantic waters. Breeding time of the Black Sea populations is reported to be from December to April and July. Spawning takes place in the Thermaikos Gulf and in the Iskenderun Bay from January to May and from December to May and in winter-spring with a peak in January-February in the Gulf of Gabès. Eggs are pelagic, spherical, smooth and not sticky. Important nursery areas were showed along the coastal strip in the vicinity of Arno, Magra and Serchio river mouths.This phenomenon was observed also in other Mediterranean and Atlantic areas. Along the Tuscany coast, juvenile (mode of about 4 cm TL), appear in December and a massive recruitment occurs in March-April. The same recruitment period is reported in Mediterranean. In the central-northern Adriatic Sea juveniles are found in spring-summer on sandy-muddy bottoms between 10 and 20 m depth, while adults prevail in autumn-winter, during the spawning period.