Morphometric relationships of Sphoeroides pachygaster (Pisces - Tetraodontidae) of the Strait of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)
Ragonese, S.; Jereb, P.; Morara, U. (1997). Morphometric relationships of Sphoeroides pachygaster (Pisces - Tetraodontidae) of the Strait of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea). Cah. Biol. Mar. 38(4): 283-289
In: Cahiers de Biologie Marine. Station Biologique de Roscoff: Paris. ISSN 0007-9723; e-ISSN 2262-3094, meer
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| Trefwoorden |
MED, Italy, Sicily
Morphometry
Pisces [WoRMS]; Sphoeroides pachygaster (Müller & Troschel, 1848) [WoRMS]; Tetraodontidae Bonaparte, 1831 [WoRMS]
Sicily [Marine Regions]
Marien/Kust |
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| Auteurs | | Top |
- Ragonese, S.
- Jereb, P.
- Morara, U.
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| Abstract |
Basic morphometric relationships of the puffer fish Sphoeroides pachygaster of the Strait of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) are reported. The species is widely distributed in the area, from 80 m to 400 m depth, and is represented by a well established population. The length structure of the sample used showed a main peak for juveniles at 130-140 mm standard length (SL), and a wide size range (83-405 mm, SL), with females reaching a larger size than males. Bivariate relationships of the basic measurements were analysed according to the allometric model after loge linear transformation; standard length was considered as the independent variable. Females and males showed coincident (no sex-related differences) relationships for total length, body height and body thickness, while somatic weight, orbital diameter, interorbital distance and snout length relationships were significantly different according to sex. Length-weight relationships were significantly negatively allometric (slope = 2.6) in both males and females, showing significant differences only in the intercepts. |
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