Morphometric characteristics of diploid and triploid Far Eastern catfish, <i>Silurus asotus</i>

Abstract

This study identified the differences in the morphometric characteristics of the truss and classical dimensions between diploid and triploid Far Eastern catfish, Silurus asotus, and provided methods for sorting diploid and triploid Far Eastern catfish based on morphometric observations. The significant variables were the direct distance between the anterior edge of the lower lip and the anterior insertion of the dorsal fin (DALAD), the horizontal distance between the anterior edge of the lower lip and the anterior insertion of the ventral fin (HALAV), the direct distance between the anterior edge of the upper lip and the first nostril (DAUF), the direct distance between the anterior edge of the upper lip and the second nostril (DAUS), the interorbital width (IW), and the mandible barbel length (ManBL). The more significant variables were HALAV, DALAD, DAUF, IW, and DAUS. The most useful combination of variables for separating the two groups was DALAD, IW, and DAUF, which correctly classified 85% of the catfish as triploid or diploid, and that percentage was the maximum degree of value possible (p<0.05). Triploid Far Eastern catfish had a high rate of growth in the head region and body depth during the first year after hatching. Triploid Far Eastern catfish had smaller heads and shorter mandible barbels than diploid Far Eastern catfish.