Development, morphometry and particle retention capability of the gill rakers in the herring, Clupea harengus L.

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Abstract
The development of gill rakers in the herring, Clupea harengus L. was followed from the larva to the adult. The first rakers appear on the gill arches at a total length (t.l.) of about 16 mm. Their number then increases rapidly until the fish are about 50 mm t.l. when the rate of addition becomes much slower. The length of individual rakers and the space between them continues to increase throughout life. The rakers on the first gill arch account for almost 60% of the whole filtering area. The observed particle retention capabilities of the fish when filter‐feeding were lower than those expected on the basis of the estimated spaces between the rakers. Several reasons are suggested for the discrepancy.