Monopterus albus,belonging to Synbranchidae,Synbranchiformes,is an economically important species in southeastern Asia for food production,which undergoes natural sex reversal from female via intersex into male during its life.Some studies have been performed on the biology and ecology characteristics of M.albus,but no information on the growth characteristics of M.albus in Poyang Lake has been published.In this study,age and growth characteristics were studied based on 244 specimens of M.albus collected from the Poyang Lake from September,2006 to August,2007.Ages were determined by reading annuli on basihyal and vertebrae.The estimated age ranges were between 1-5 years for female,2-6 years for male and 2-5 years for intersex.The individuals from two to four years old were dominant and represented 89.75% of total catch of the fish.Within the age interval,the body length of each individual was from 30 to 50 cm.The body length and body weight were in the relation of power function.The relationship of body length to body weight was W=0.000 4L^{3.260 1}(♀),and W=0.001 4L^{2.900 8}(♂).The growth parameters used to fit the Von Bertalanffy equation were L_∞=78.5 cm,k=0.174 02 /y,t₀=-1.203 2 y,W_∞=602.01 g for female and L_∞=102.3 cm,k=0.118 45 /y,t₀=-1.310 1 y,W_∞=947.32 g for male.The growth performance indices were φ=3.030 3(♀)and φ=3.093 4(♂).There was a significant difference in growth between the female and male.