During early development, the left and right sagittae of European hake Merluccius merluccius showed dimorphism in both size and shape due to the different number and size of accessory primordia. Juvenile hake reached the total length (L T ) of 15cm in c.1 year, with monthly growth rates ranging from 1.6cm month - 1 in the third month of life to 1.1cm month - 1 towards the end of the first year. Back-calculated hatch-date distribution indicated continuous spawning with a peak in summer and a second, less evident, peak in February-March. The presence of early demersal juveniles (16-30mmL T , c.40 days old) very close to the Pomo pit area (Central Adriatic Sea) atc .140m depths indicates that the change from the pelagic to the demersal phase takes place atc .40 days close to the area of concentration of juveniles. The daily-increment hypothesis was validated indirectly.