CHANGES IN SOME MEASUREMENT AND COUNTING INDICATORS OF Ellochelon vaigiensis DISTRIBUTED IN THE MEKONG DELTA

Abstract

The study was carried out to supplement the morphological index of mullet with Ellochelon vaigiensis. A total of 480 fish samples (263 males and 217 females) were obtained from four sites in the Mekong Delta: Thanh Phu (Ben Tre); Duyen Hai (Tra Vinh); Tran De (Soc Trang); Dong Hai (Bac Lieu) from April to July, 2022 using trawl nets. Samples were collected directly (caught in the area) and indirectly (with people collecting samples 72 hours in advance). The results showed that the morphological indexes of fish did not change by sex (P>0.05). Tail width (t=0.01; P=0.99) and minimum height (t=0.55, P=0.58) were the only parameters that did not differ by fish size. Similar to sex, the morphological parameters in this species did not change with the seasons, except for the lower tail width in the wet season (t=3.85; P<0.01). Except for the maximum body height, tail width, number of dorsal fin rays, and number of anal rays, the remaining morphological parameters in this fish all changed according to the study sites (P<0.05). The results add information to fish identification and habitat adaptation.