Short Communication: Common sole, Solea solea (Linnaeus ۱۷۵۸) in Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea: A special morphometric approach to dimorphic structures

This study aims to determine the sexual dimorphism seen in the morphological characters of the commercially important demersal fish species Solea solea from the Aegean Sea coasts of Türkiye according to sex and length groups. We found that there were differences parallel to the growth in morphometric characteristics according to the sexes (♀: ۱۶۶, ♂: ۶۶ sample size) and the three length groups (۱۹۰ – ۲۲۹ mm, ۲۳۰ – ۲۶۹ mm, >۲۷۰ mm). Regarding the specimens examined, it is possible to say that the females have isometric growth, whereas growth in males and combined specimens are considered positive allometric in terms of total length and weight relationship. In the length-length relationship, while females showed allometric growth in the proportional measurements of head region (head length, head height, body height, distance between eyes, lower eye diameter, mandible length) and in the values of caudal peduncle and body height, males continued isometric growth. Considering the length groups, the most prominent morphological difference was seen in body height among the specimens of the ۱۹۰ – ۲۲۹ mm length group. Females in this size group have a higher body than those of males and show sexual dimorphism. Our estimates of common sole of Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea) population morphometric features and growth dimorphism potential can be used to design spatial management strategies to morphological modelling techniques.

کلیدواژه ها:

Common sole ، Flatfish ، Morphological difference ، Sexual growth dimorphism