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Morphometric and meristic parameters of sardine (Sardina pilchardus, Walbaum, 1792) in the Zadar fishing area

This paper presents the results of some morphometric and meristic parameters of sardine, Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) from coastal (Virsko more) and open waters (Dugi Otok) of the Zadar area, during the period from March 2004 to February 2005. The total length of all analyzed specimens ranged from 13.0 to 19.0 cm and weights ranged between 16.72 g and 51.45 g, respectively. Body length analyses indicated greater values for sardine females (N=541) than males (N=668) in all observed lengths (LT, LF, LS, LA, LH, OK, LP and BD), except for the eye diameter (ED), where both sexes had equal average value. The length-weight relationship indicated negative allometric growth (b=2.5538, a=0.0261). In length-length relationships, statistical significance occurred in the following relationships: eye diameter in head length (2.78%) and head length in total length (9.01%). For vertebrae analyses, two groups were compared according to their length: the first one obtained specimens smaller than 16.0 cm in total length (LT), whereas samples longer than 16.0 cm belonged to the second group. The number of vertebrae in both groups ranged between 48 and 52 with the most abundant vertebrae class of 50 vertebrae (37.7 %), whereas a minimal number of sardines (4.9 %) had 48 vertebras. A statistically significant difference between the two analyzed groups was not found (t=0.86). The number of rays (RD) in the dorsal fin ranged from 17 to 19 and the average value was 18.11 ± 0.51.

morphometric parameters; meristic parameters; sardine; Adriatic

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