Original scientific paper
Biometric properties of Mediterranean horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus (Osteichthyes: Carangidae) from the central Adriatic Sea
I. Jardas
M. Šantić
A. Pallaoro
Abstract
The relationship between morphometric measurements (15) and meristic characters (8) were examined in 237 specimens of Mediterranean horse mackerel (105 females, 101 males and 31 immature specimens) caught in the central Adriatic Sea. The goal of this paper was to investigate: whether there are morphological differences between males and females; the existence of homogenous or heterogeneous morphology stock; changes in morphometric characters with an increase in body length.
Morphological differences between males and females were not marked. Modal values specific for Trachurus species morphologic characters, such as number of lateral line scales, maximum height of scales in anterior and posterior part of lateral line, point at which dorsal accessory lateral line is terminated and values of other biometric properties indicated a possible homogeneous morphology stock of T. mediterraneus in the central Adriatic Sea. Changes in some morphometric characters obtained in conjunction with an increase in body length showed that smaller specimens have longer head, anal and ventral fin than adult specimens. On the other hand, with an increase in total length, the fish have larger preorbital and postorbital distance, smaller eye and maximum height of scales in the lateral line than smaller fishes. The negative correlation recorded for the maximum and minimum body depth indicates that the body becomes progressively elongated. The meristic characters of Mediterranean horse mackerel from different Mediterranean and NE Atlantic areas are mostly in agreement with the data in our study.
Keywords
Trachurus mediterraneus; morphometric and meristic characters; Adriatic Sea
Hrčak ID:
10480
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2004.
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