Morphologic characteristics and length-weight relationships of Sciaena umbra (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Black Sea coast

Abstract

In this study, the morphological characteristics and length-weight relationships ofSciaena umbra (Linnaeus, 1758) belonging to the Sciaenidae family, which is representedby five species in the Mediterranean basin and two species in the Black Sea, wereinvestigated. Sampling was carried out in the Black Sea Region (Samsun, Ordu, Giresun,Trabzon) between March 2019 and February 2020. A total 54 of individuals were sampledand 15 different metric measurements were performed in each sample to determine theirmorphological characteristics. The mean total length and weight were estimated as 357.8mm (117-580) and 845.3 g (16.4-2485.1), respectively. Total length was compared withmorphometric characters and the lowest ratio was found with eye diameter (4.3%) and thehighest ratio was with anal distance (59.9%). In the relation between the total length andmorphological characters of the highest and the lowest correlation were observed in dorsaldistance with r2=0.993 and the anal height with r2=0.938. A strong correlation (r2 = 0.993)was found between the total length and weight relationship and the growth was positiveallometric b> 3. This paper reports the first documented of morphometric characteristicsof the species. It is considered to contribute to fisheries biology and international scientificliterature.