Field studies at Huayquique, northern Chile, using tagged specimens of Fissurella crassa released in their natural habitat, found that shell-growth rings were formed twice a year, usually in summer and winter. Age-size relationships, based on mean growth ring sizes, were established by using the von Bertalanffy growth equation: [See Equation in source PDF] Shell sizes at different ages were compared with the growth pattern previously determined for this species. Growth rings were shown to be a reliable method for determining age in Fissurella crassa at Huayquique, at least in animals from 1-6 years old. The largest specimen analyzed had a calculated age of 10 years.
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Marta Bretos (1980) studied this question.
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