Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.
2010
Volume 13
Issue 4
Topic:
Fisheries
ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Więcaszek B. , Krzykawski S. 2010. MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ASIAN WALKING CATFISH CLARIAS BATRACHUS (L., 1758) (ACTINOPTERYGII: CLARIIDAE) FROM THE LABORATORY CULTURE, EJPAU 13(4), #01.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume13/issue4/abs-01.html

MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ASIAN WALKING CATFISH CLARIAS BATRACHUS (L., 1758) (ACTINOPTERYGII: CLARIIDAE) FROM THE LABORATORY CULTURE

Beata Więcaszek, Stanisław Krzykawski
Department of Fish Systematics, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland

 

ABSTRACT


The material used to study meristic and morphometric characters consisted of 30 xanthic morph individuals collected from the laboratory culture, and one albino individual from the heated water aquaculture. The fishes measured from
23.3 to 43.0 cm in total length (TL). Taxonomic analysis involved 13 morphometric characters and 7 meristic ones. A high variability of metric characters, expressed as per cent of SL, was found in three characters: length and width of the occipital process, and the maxillary barbel length. The lowest variability showed the predorsal and prepelvic lengths as well anal and dorsal fin lengths, while in characters expressed as per cent of TL – anal fin length. The shape of the occipital process was found to change with the fish length. The length/width ratio of the occipital process ranged markedly from 40.74 to 79.17%, decreasing with the fish length increase. The following formula of meristic characters can be presented: Db 57–64 (61.50), Ab 39-50 (45.33), Vu 1 Vb 5–6 (5.83), Pu 1, Pb 7–8 (7.50), GR 17–21 (18.92), vt. 56–62 (59.00). Ranges of the ray count in dorsal and anal fins were lower compared to data in the literature from other regions. The rakers on the first gill arch are fine, while on the second arch they are squabby. On both gill arches rakers have a slight serration on the inner side and they are rather rarely set. Catfish examined differed in some characters from the neotype of C. batrachus described in recent literature.

Key words: Clarias batrachus, morphometric characters, meristics, occipital process, walking catfish.


Beata Więcaszek
Department of Fish Systematics,
West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland
Kazimierza Królewicza 4, 71-550 Szczecin, Poland
email: bwiecaszek@zut.edu.pl

Stanisław Krzykawski
Department of Fish Systematics,
West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland
Kazimierza Królewicza 4, 71-550 Szczecin, Poland

Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed 'Discussions' and hyperlinked to the article.