Morphometric study of Acipenser nuccurii (Bonaparte, 1836) in fish farm individuals

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to analyse differences and similarities in morphometric characteristics among specimens of the same year class of Acipenser naccarii (Bonaparte, 1836), comparing fish raised either in Italy or Spain. All specimens were F1 of captive broodstock in Italy. Fifteen biometric variables were measured, and three derived indices were calculated, on 30 individuals of 3+ year class from Lombardy (Italy) and 90 individuals of I+, 2+ and 3+ year class from Riofrio (Granada, Spain). A stepwise discriminate analysis (SDA) was carried out, and the results were contrasted using a non-hierarchical cluster analysis. The two groups proved to be similar, so a principal component analysis and a simple regression analysis were performed on all individuals, taking total length (TI) as the independent variable and all the biometric variables as dependent. The study revealed that although the Soljan index (i.e. ratio of mouth width to snout length) is related to TI, and is a valid taxonomic characteristic, the CA index (i.e. relative position of the barbels) and FB index (i.e. ratio of snout length to width) are also valid characteristics for individuals longer than 57 cm, being independent of TI.