In this video, an FWC biologist demonstrates how to extract otoliths from a Florida largemouth bass. Otoliths, commonly known as "earstones," are hard, calcium carbonate structures located directly behind the brain of bony fishes. Biologists use otoliths to determine how old an individual fish is. These bones have rings very much like a tree trunk, and every year environmental triggers cause a new ring to form. There are several things researchers can gather from this information, and our web ar