Morphological Characterization of Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) Populations in the Southern Black Sea (Turkey)

Morphological characteristics such as meristic counts and body shape have long been used in stock identification. Fifty striped seabream, Lithognathus mormyrus, individuals were sampled from the south Black Sea between January 2020 November 2020. Morphometric characteristics given percentage of total length (TL%). Species identification differences sexes seabream analyzed by different statistical methods. The biggest maximum weight values (TL=310 mm for TW=399.73 g) found southern this study. mean TL female (X=205.26 mm) was higher than male (X=199.10 mm). TL% ratio head 24.45% all individuals. In study, isometric growth (t=2.009, p>0.05) determined length-weight relationship (LWR) W=0.013TL3.003 (r²=0.983). This study revealed that morphological L. mormyrus differ significantly individuals species may be a good example sexual dimorphism.