Relative growth and comparative morphometrics of Mugil cephalus L. and M. curema V. in the Gulf of Mexico
A.L. Ibañez-Aguirre and J. Lleonart

The morphometric differences between two congeneric species, Mugil cephalus and M. curema, and their sexes are studied through ten measurements. The allometries of each measurement are estimated in relation to total length. Morphometric variations are analysed using three transformations: (i) logarithmic transformation, (ii) division of each variable by total length, and (iii) normalization of the individuals of each group; and three multivariate methods: (a) reciprocal averaging, (b) principal component analysis and (c) canonical analysis of populations. Results indicate that the morphology of both species is different, male and female M. cephalus were clearly discriminated into two groups, while no important differences were found between the sexes of M. curema. The separation of the groups, due to differences in “shape” rather than “size” was observed through analysis of reciprocal averaging and canonical analysis of populations by normalization of the individuals in each group. The morphometric variables that differentiated the four groups were thickness at maximum width, length to anal fin and cephalic length.

Keywords: Relative growth, morphometrics, Mugil cephalus, Mugil curema, Gulf of Mexico.
Contents of this volume Sci. Mar. 60(2-3) : 361-368 Back PDF
 
 
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