ALLOMETRY VARIATION IN MORPHOMETRICS OF GLOSSOGOBIUS SPARSIPAPILLUS CAUGHT ALONG HAU RIVER, FROM CAN THO TO SOC TRANG PROVINCES

Abstract

This study provides data on allometric variation in morphometrics of Glossogobius sparsipapillus in the Mekong Delta. A collection of 355 individuals, comprising 155 females and 200 males, was collected from Cai Rang in Can Tho province and Long Phu in Soc Trang province between January and December 2020 for morphological analysis. Statistic analyses showed that fish total length (TL) had strong relation with standard length (SL), body height (BH) and head length (HL) due to significant values of the regressions, e.g., SL = aTL^b, HL = aTL^b and BD = aTL^b (r² > 0.666 for all cases). The slope values (b) of TL-SL and TL-HL regressions show A- and I in males but I and A+ in females, respectively; but b of TL-HL regression shares the same pattern between genders (A-). It indicates that fish sex can be determined from the TL-SL and TL-BH regressions. Fish maturation can be estimated from three regressions as b values display I in mature but A in immature one. The TL-HL and TL-BH regressions can be used in order to evaluate when and where fish are caught since b values change with different seasons and locations. The findings show that we can use SL and BL to determine fish gender; SL, BL and HL to confirm when and where fish are caught and when fish reaches maturity.