Investigating Morphometric and Meristic of Leaping Mullet (Liza saliens Risso, 1810) in the coast of Bandar Anzali

Study of morphological characteristics and apparent differences are important in fish classification, comprehension of biological and feeding factors and growth. Therefore, the present study has been conducted to investigate morphometric and meristic characteristics of sharp nose mullet (Liza saliens) in Bandar Anzali coast from August 2012 to October 2012. According to data analysis, the average of total length, weight and age of the examined specimens (n=180) were 255.49±30.74 millimeter, 127.47±42.14 gram and 4.32±0.106 year, respectively. The average number of scales on lateral line, the number of branched rays in the second dorsal fin and anal fin were estimated 44.95±1.71, 7.04±0.45 and 8.92±0.35, respectively. Other measurements were as follows: the average head length 23.5±1.1%, eye diameter 6.25±0.5%, maximum length of body 21.47±1.86%, height and length of the first dorsal fin 12.36±0.95 and 6.04±0.53% respectively, height and length of the second dorsal fin 12.76±0.94 and 8.41±0.67% respectively, height and length of anal fin 13.26±0.96 and 9.51±0.85% respectively, pectoral fin length 20.02±1.19% and ventral fin 14.07±0.84%, pectoral-ventral fin distance 18.57±1.11% and ventral-anal 37.02±1.81% and pre-dorsal distance 48.96±1.61% of body fork length. Results showed that there were no statistic differences in meristic counts between male and female but there were observed differences in 40 morphometric factors between two sexes.