Otolith microstructure was analyzed to determine daily ages and growth rates of larval thornfish (Terapon jarbua) in coastal waters of Kin-shan and Tan-shui in northern Taiwan. The timings of the formation of first increment and the periodicity of increments in otoliths were validated by known-aged hatching larvae and wild larvae marked with OTC and reared at different temperature, salinity and food rations.
