SEX DISCRIMINATION BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS IN SQUARETAIL MULLET Ellochelon vaigiensis (QUOY & GAIMARD, 1825)

Abstract

This study contributes a method in order to determine fish sex using the regression of some morphological measurements of squaretail mullet Ellochelon vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825). A total of 656 fish samples were collected by trawl nets at four coastal sites from Ben Tre to Tra Vinh, Soc Trang and Bac Lieu during a period of 10 months from March to October 2021. After collection, fish samples were transferred to the laboratory to measure the total length (TL), standard length (SL), body height (BH) and head length (HL) before surgery to determine the fish sex based on gonads. The results of regression analysis of TL-SL, TL-BH and TL-HL showed that BH and HL could be used to determine the sex of this fish as BH, and HL of females increased dominantly than males. In addition, SL, BH and HL could be used to estimate when fish was caught (e.g., the dry or wet season).