Age, growth, feeding and reproduction of red lionfishPterois volitans (L., 1785) fished from in İskenderun Bay

Age, growth, reproductive and food of Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) red lionfish were studied. A total of 87 specimens were collected from commercial drift net, angling fisheries and diving with hand net southern coast of the Iskenderun Bay between March 2018 and April 2019. Age was determined by reading whole sagittal otoliths. Fish ranged from14.2 to 35.5 cm in total length, which corresponded to fish between 1 to 7 years old. The sex ratio (1:1.41) was biased toward females (P<0.05). The length–weight relationships were W=0.042×L3..3514 ve W=0.0108×L3.0423 for females and males, respectively. Growth parameters were estimated using the standard von Bertalanffy growth model (k=0.064, L∞=38.49 cm and to =-0.797 for combined sexes. The diet was composed of crustaceans and fishes. The stomach fullness and dietary component was affect by the gear as well as seasons.