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Fish meristic characters

The document outlines various meristic characters of fishes, including definitions and measurement techniques for total length, standard length, fork length, and other body dimensions. It also describes how to measure fin rays, lateral line length, and other anatomical features such as the occipital process and branchiostegal rays. Each measurement is specified with clear instructions to ensure accuracy in fish morphology studies.

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34 views

Fish meristic characters

The document outlines various meristic characters of fishes, including definitions and measurement techniques for total length, standard length, fork length, and other body dimensions. It also describes how to measure fin rays, lateral line length, and other anatomical features such as the occipital process and branchiostegal rays. Each measurement is specified with clear instructions to ensure accuracy in fish morphology studies.

Uploaded by

tamagnaroy29
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MERISTIC CHARACTERS OF

FISHES
FOLLOW IT
CAREFULLY
Total Length (TL)

● Definition: The distance from the tip of the snout to the end of the longest caudal (tail) fin ray
when the tail is compressed.
● Measurement: Measure from the most anterior point of the head to the furthest tip of the
caudal fin with the tail fin lobes pressed together.

Standard Length (SL)

● Definition: The distance from the tip of the snout to the end of the last vertebra or the base of the
caudal fin, excluding the caudal fin rays.
● Measurement: Measure from the most anterior point of the head to the end of the hypural plate
(base of the caudal fin)

Fork Length (FL)

● Definition: The distance from the tip of the snout to the fork of the caudal fin.
● Measurement: Measure from the most anterior point of the head to the center of the fork in the
caudal fin.
Head Length (HL)

● Definition: The distance from the tip of the snout to the most posterior point of the operculum (gill cover).
● Measurement: Measure from the most anterior point of the head to the end of the operculum

Pre-Dorsal Length (PDL)

● Definition: The distance from the tip of the snout to the origin of the dorsal fin.
● Measurement: Measure from the most anterior point of the head to the point where the dorsal fin begins.

Pre-Anal Length (PAL)

● Definition: The distance from the tip of the snout to the origin of the anal fin.
● Measurement: Measure from the most anterior point of the head to the point where the anal fin begins.

Pre-Pelvic Length (PPL)

● Definition: The distance from the tip of the snout to the origin of the pelvic fins.
● Measurement: Measure from the most anterior point of the head to the point where the pelvic fins begin.
Body Depth (BD)
● Definition: The maximum vertical depth of the body.
● Measurement: Measure the vertical distance from the dorsal surface to the ventral surface at the deepest
point of the body

Caudal Peduncle Length (CPL)


● Definition: The distance from the posterior end of the anal fin base to the base of the caudal fin.
● Measurement: Measure from the end of the anal fin base to the point where the caudal fin rays start.

Caudal Peduncle Depth (CPD)


● Definition: The vertical depth of the caudal peduncle.
● Measurement: Measure the vertical distance from the dorsal surface to the ventral surface at the narrowest
point of the caudal peduncle.

Orbital Length
● Definition: The orbital length refers to the diameter or length of the eye socket (orbit) in fish.
● Measurement: Use calipers to measure the horizontal distance across the orbit from one edge to the other.
This can be done by placing the calipers at the anterior and posterior edges of the eye socket.
Dorsal Fin Rays:

● Definition: The dorsal fin is located on the top (back) of the fish and is supported by rays. These rays can be either
spiny (hard) or soft.
● Measurement: Count the number of spiny and soft rays separately. The notation typically separates spiny and soft
rays with a "+" (e.g., D1 XI+10).

Anal Fin Rays:

● Definition: The anal fin is located on the ventral side (belly) of the fish, near the anus.
● Measurement: Similar to the dorsal fin, count the spiny and soft rays separately

Pectoral Fin Rays:

● Definition: Pectoral fins are located on the sides of the fish, behind the gill covers.
● Measurement: Count all rays in each pectoral fin.

Pelvic Fin Rays:

● Definition: Pelvic fins are located on the ventral side, usually below or just behind the pectoral fins.
● Measurement: Count all rays in each pelvic fin.

Caudal Fin Rays:

● Definition: The caudal fin is the tail fin.


● Measurement: Count the principal rays, typically the larger and more prominent rays at the center of the fin
Lateral Line Length
● Definition: The lateral line is a sensory organ that runs along the side of the fish from the head to the caudal fin. It
detects water movements and vibrations.
● Measurement: Measure the lateral line length from the point it starts near the gill cover (usually near the
operculum) to the point it ends near the base of the caudal fin. Use a flexible measuring tape or ruler to follow the
curve of the lateral line if necessary.

Lateral line transverse

● Width below and above the lateral line

Scales on Lateral Line


● Definition: This refers to the total number of scales that have pores and are part of the lateral line system.
● Measurement: Count the number of scales along the lateral line from the anterior (near the head) to the posterior
(near the caudal fin) end. Each scale with a lateral line pore should be counted.

Occipital Process
● Definition: The occipital process is a bony projection at the back of the skull, typically found in certain fish
species. It can serve as an attachment site for muscles or other anatomical structures.
● Measurement: Measure the length of the occipital process from its base where it joins the skull to its tip using
calipers. This measurement is usually taken on the dorsal side of the fish
Branchiostegal Rays
● Definition: Branchiostegal rays
are bony or cartilaginous supports
found under the gill cover
(operculum) in fish. They support
the gill membranes.
● Measurement: Open the
operculum and count the total
number of branchiostegal rays on
one side of the fish. This is done
by gently spreading the gill cover
and visually counting each ray

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