Morphometric and Meristic Analyses of Flying Fish Populations along the Thoothukudi Coast, Tamil Nadu

By : A. Rathipriya , Karl Marx , Jawahar P. , Kiruthiga Lakshmi D

Page No: 139-146

Abstract
A study was conducted to analyze morphological and meristic characteristics of flying fishes collected from the landing sites on Thoothukudi coast. A total of 90 samples of this species were collected. A total of fourteen morphometric and four meristic characteristics of the fish were measured for this study. Morphometric and meristic study are vigorous tools for measuring discreteness of the same species. Traditional measurements were used to describe the shape of fish body. Traditional data, such as total length (TL), fork length (FL), standard length (SL), head length (HL), maximum body depth (MBD), eye diameter (ED), pre orbital length (PrOL), pre anal length (PAL), caudal height (CH) and pectoral fin length (PFL) were recorded. A total four meristic characters were examined using the number of pectoral fin unbranched rays, dorsal fin rays (DFR), anal fin rays (PvFR), and predorasal scales (PDS).

Authors :
A. Rathipriya and D.Kiruthiga Lakshmi
Department of Fisheries Biotechnology, Fisheries College & Research Institute, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu Fisheries University Nagapattinam, India.

K. Karal Marx
Department of Basic Science, Tamil Nadu Fisheries University Nagapattinam, Indi

P.Jawahar
Dept. of Fisheries Biology & Resource Management, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi.