Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarcticum) is a key species in the food webs of Antarctic Seas by linking lower trophic levels to higher predators such as seabirds, fishes, and marine mammals. The Ross Sea hosts multiple hatching and nursery areas for Antarctic silverfish, which plays an important role in the local ecosystem and contributes substantially to energy flow. Due to environmental constraints on sampling during autumn and winter, most previous studies on Antarctic silverfish were based on summer-collected samples, and primarily focused on its ecological role, distribution, and adult life history traits, whereas early life history remain relatively understudied. In this study, early growth characteristics of Antarctic silverfish were investigated based on specimens collected during the austral autumn (April 2025) in the Ross Sea. A total of 209 individuals were analyzed, with standard lengths ranging from 14.5 to 31.3 mm and corresponding estimated ages from 29 to 135 days. The relationship between standard length and age was modeled as log_eSL = log_e13.5591 + 0.0064 t, resulting in a growth rate of 0.15mm day⁻¹ at a mean size of 23.3 mm. Back-calculation of hatching dates indicated that spawning occurred between November 2024 and March 2025, with a pronounced hatching peak during January. These results reveal a later hatching peak of Antarctic silverfish in the Ross Sea during austral autumn compared with lower-latitude and summer-based observations. This shift highlights potential regional and seasonal differences in reproductive timing, which may be linked to environmental variability and ecosystem-specific life history strategies.

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