Pectoral spine size in Synodontis schall (Teleostei: Mochokidae) from Asa Lake, Ilorin, Nigeria

The pectoral spines of Synodontis schall (n = 813) were examined for 24 months. Mean length for the right (3.2 cm) and left (3.1 cm) pectoral spines were not significantly different [P 0.05];. However, the male and female pectoral spine lengths were significantly different (P < 0.05). A fractured...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: P.A Araoye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vicerractoría Investigación 2000-06-01
Series:Revista de Biología Tropical
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-77442000000200023
Description
Summary:The pectoral spines of Synodontis schall (n = 813) were examined for 24 months. Mean length for the right (3.2 cm) and left (3.1 cm) pectoral spines were not significantly different [P 0.05];. However, the male and female pectoral spine lengths were significantly different (P < 0.05). A fractured pectoral spine in one of the specimens was shorter than the other. The fracture which could be deleterious to balancing, feeding and reproductive activities was attributed to an injury rather than to genetic or epigenetic defects.
ISSN:0034-7744
2215-2075