Original scientific paper

Sexual dimorphism in the head, mouth, and body morphology of the smallspotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758) (Chondrichthyes: Scyliorhinidae) from Turkey

Halit F0L0Z
Ertan TAŞKAVAK

Abstract

Males of the smallspotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula, have a longer and narrower mouth than females, resulting in pronounced sexual dimorphism. The length/width ratio of the mouth is
0.55 in males and 0.50 in females. Other head measurements also significantly differ between the sexes, i.e., the snout-spiracle and snout-pectoral distances. Body measurements that differ between the sexes include pelvic to anal, pectoral inner edge, pelvic to median tip, upper caudal, and total body lengths. Reasons for these differences are discussed.

Keywords

Scyliorhinus canicula; Elasmobranchii; sexual dimorphism; meristic; nanism

Hrčak ID:

8460

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/8460

Publication date:

1.6.2006.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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