How long does the female Lophius piscatorius generally take to reach sexual maturity?
Answer
Around age 14
The developmental timeline for the female *Lophius piscatorius* is considerably longer than that of her male counterpart, reflecting a substantial biological investment necessary for future reproductive success. The text specifies that a female of this common anglerfish species typically requires around 14 years to reach the stage of sexual maturity. This protracted juvenile phase suggests that significant time and energy must be devoted to growth, enabling her to attain the greater size required to successfully reproduce and withstand the rigors associated with carrying and releasing large masses of eggs.
Related Questions
What is the maximum lifespan projection established for female Lophius piscatorius in the wild?At what approximate age does the male Lophius piscatorius typically reach sexual maturity?What is the general maximum lifespan estimate sometimes cited for the dominant female deep-sea ceratioids?What biological event initiates the transformation of the deep-sea male anglerfish into a permanent appendage?What environmental pressures significantly reduce the potential lifespan of Lophius piscatorius in shallower waters?What specific physiological adaptation do deep-sea anglerfish possess to cope with food scarcity?Why does the concept of an individual male lifespan become almost irrelevant for deep-sea anglerfish like ceratioids?How long does the female Lophius piscatorius generally take to reach sexual maturity?What primary advantage does the parasitic attachment strategy offer the deep-sea male anglerfish?What fundamental difference characterizes the reproductive investment strategy of the shallow-water female versus the deep-sea male anglerfish?