Abstract
In this study, the morphological characteristics and length-weight relationships of Sciaena umbra (Linnaeus, 1758) belonging to the Sciaenidae family, which is represented by five species in the Mediterranean basin and two species in the Black Sea, were investigated. Sampling was carried out in the Black Sea Region (Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon) between March 2019 and February 2020. A total 54 of individuals were sampled and 15 different metric measurements were performed in each sample to determine their morphological characteristics. The mean total length and weight were estimated as 357.8 mm (117-580) and 845.3 g (16.4-2485.1), respectively. Total length was compared with morphometric characters and the lowest ratio was found with eye diameter (4.3%) and the highest ratio was with anal distance (59.9%). In the relation between the total length and morphological characters of the highest and the lowest correlation were observed in dorsal distance with r2=0.993 and the anal height with r2=0.938. A strong correlation (r2=0.993) was found between the total length and wet relationship and the growth was positive allometric b>3. This paper reports the first documented of morphometric characteristics of the species. It is considered to contribute to fisheries biology and international scientific literature.
Highlights
The brown meagre, Sciaena umbra Linnaeus, 1758, is one of the five species of the Sciaenidae family present in the Mediterranean Sea (Fischer et al, 1987)
The morphological characteristics and length-weight relationships of Sciaena umbra (Linnaeus, 1758) belonging to the Sciaenidae family, which is represented by five species in the Mediterranean basin and two species in the Black Sea, were investigated
Total length was compared with morphometric characters and the lowest ratio was found with eye diameter (4.3%) and the highest ratio was with anal distance (59.9%)
Summary
The brown meagre, Sciaena umbra Linnaeus, 1758, is one of the five species of the Sciaenidae (croakers or drums) family present in the Mediterranean Sea (Fischer et al, 1987) It is a demersal species with a wide distribution from the East Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean, Aegean, Black Sea and Azov Sea (Artüz, 2006; La Mesa et al, 2008; Chao, 2015). The brown meagre is a sedentary and gregarious species living in shelters on rocky bottoms close to caves or large crevices in which it can shelter, or hidden within Posidonia and Zostera beds (Harmelin, 1991; Keskin, 2007) It is a nocturnal fish but it can sometimes to be found during the day (Frimodt, 1995). Length-weight relationships allow morphological comparisons between different fish species or fish populations from different habitats and different regions (Gonçalves et al, 1997; Oscoz et al, 2005; Gül et al, 2017).The aim of this study was to provide data on the length and weight and morphometric characters of S. umbra species in the Black Sea
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