DIVERSITY AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MULLET SPECIES BELONG TO MUGILDAE FAMILY IN THE ESTUARIES OF PHU YEN PROVINCE

Abstract

The family Mugilidae is a family with a fairly large number of species with about 80 species belonging to 17 genera distributed in tropical and temperate seas with salt, brackish and fresh water in coastal estuaries. In Vietnam, 22 species of 8 different genera are recorded from the North to the South sea along estuaries, lagoons, lagoons and bays. In the estuaries of Phu Yen province, 8 mullet species belong to 5 genera of the Mugilidae family have been recorded, those are Mugil cephalus, Chelon planiceps, Liza haematochelia, Liza macrolepis, Liza subviridis, Liza carinata, Moolgarda cunnesius and Valamugil engeli. Of which, 3 species have high economic value and are regularly exploited were Mugil cephalus, Moolgarda cunnesius and Liza marcrolepis. Determine the indicators of measurement and count of 8 mullet species. Building a key to classify and describe the morphological characteristics of 8 mullet species. Comparison of differences in morphological characteristics of 5 genus on head shape, eye fat membrane, mandible, fin shape and gills.