2024 Vol. 30 No.2 PP 343-351

https://doi.org/10.33451/florafauna.v30i2pp343-351

Scale morphology an additional tool for taxonomy and fish identification with reference to Nemipteridae fishes (N. japonicus, N. bipunctatus and N. randalli)

^*N.C.Ujjania1 and A.K. Jaiswar² Fish scales are the exoskeleton which provide structural support to the fishes and it is the validated tool for taxonomy, classification and identification of the fish. In present study, three marine fish species N. japonicus, N. bipunctatus and N. randalli were collected from the three locations namely Sassoon dock, (Colaba), Versova fish landing center (Versova) and Bhayander fish landing center (Bhayandar) situated on west coast of India and are used to compare the morphological variations of scales. During the study, cycloid type were analyzed under 4P scale reader to measure the different morphometric measurements (L1: A-B, L2: B-C, L3: C-D, L4: D-E, L5: E-F, L6: F-A, L7: A-G, L8: B-G, L9: C-G, L10: D-G, L11: E-G, L12: F-G) between the different landmarks to find out the morphological variations among scale of studied fish species.The minimum and maximum morphological measurement of the scale were noted 2.863±0.053 to 12.864±0.172 in N. japonicus, 2.633±0.090 to 13.417±0.343in N. bipunctatus and 2.594±0.069 to 12.083±0.258 in N. randalli. Whereas, correlation metrix of scale variables was strong between L6 and L7 (0.877) in N. japonicus, L3 and L6 (0.901) in N. bipunctatusand L12 and L5 (0.936) in N. randalli while relationship of L11 with all variable show the weak correlation. The variation in the scale morphology was verified by the descriptive statistical analysis like principle component analysis, correlation matrix etc. These findings revealed the morphological variation in the scale i.e. scale size is different in different fish species which quantify the fish taxonomy and could be considered an essential tool for fish identification.

KEY WORDS : Cycloid scale, Fish identification, Morphology of scale, Nemipteridae fishes, Taxonomy.