Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXIV, Issue 2
Written by Lyudmila NIKOLOVA, Stanimir BONEV
Seven-year-old male (n = 25) and female (n = 25) Russian sturgeons (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii), grown under the same conditions on a super-intensive cage farm, 36 plastic and 7 meristic traits are studied and 7 morphometric indices are calculated. Female fish had significantly (P <0.001) better fattening than males, their body was more compact (P <0.001) and thicker (P <0.01). In females, the ratio of antiventral distance, back thickness and body girth to the total body length is higher. In male fish, the ratios of the head lengths, the caudal stalk, the ventral fin, the anal fin height and the ventro-anal distance to the total body length are relatively larger. In female fish, the height and length of the space behind the eye are greater, they have a wider mouth, a larger eye and a wider snout. In males, the long-headed index is higher (P <0.05), the snout and the distance from its end to the mouth are longer, the lower lip interruption is larger. Female fish have significantly fewer ventral bone scutes the left (P <0.05) and the right (P <0.01) sides of the body.
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