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<p>The morphological differences between the sexes of a species is relevant to its captive breeding, ethology, and eco-biology and are studied extensively in fishes. In this paper, we analyzed the sexual dimorphism of the cyprinid Nilgiri melon barb, <italic>Haludaria fasciata</italic> (Jerdon), in their external structures, size, and shape. Physical examination, microscopical analysis, and morphometric and geometrical analyses of both sexes of the fish were conducted. The presence of tubercle pits and protuberant tubercles on the snout and orbital region were observed in males, while these were absent in females. Smaller-sized tubercles were arranged like a serration on the pectoral fin of males. Body size analysis indicated significant sexual size differences (P &lt; 0.05) in body depth, fork length, eye diameter, pectoral fin length, and caudal fin length. Shape analysis indicated that the coordinate lengths L8 and L1 were the two that were significantly different (P &lt; 0.05) between the sexes. In global redundancy trace analysis of vertices, the males in the population had more substantial variations in their shapes than did females. The paper discusses the possible functions linked with the dimorphic traits identified in <italic>H. fasciata</italic>.</p>
</abstract>

The morphological differences between the sexes of a species is relevant to its captive breeding, ethology, and eco-biology and are studied extensively in fishes. In this paper, we analyzed the sexual dimorphism of the cyprinid Nilgiri melon barb, Haludaria fasciata (Jerdon), in their external structures, size, and shape. Physical examination, microscopical analysis, and morphometric and geometrical analyses of both sexes of the fish were conducted. The presence of tubercle pits and protuberant tubercles on the snout and orbital region were observed in males, while these were absent in females. Smaller-sized tubercles were arranged like a serration on the pectoral fin of males. Body size analysis indicated significant sexual size differences (P < 0.05) in body depth, fork length, eye diameter, pectoral fin length, and caudal fin length. Shape analysis indicated that the coordinate lengths L8 and L1 were the two that were significantly different (P < 0.05) between the sexes. In global redundancy trace analysis of vertices, the males in the population had more substantial variations in their shapes than did females. The paper discusses the possible functions linked with the dimorphic traits identified in H. fasciata.

Sexual dimorphism in structures, size and shape of the cyprinid Nilgiri melon barb, <italic>Haludaria fasciata</italic>

Cochin University of Science and Technology

Fisheries & Aquatic Life

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Sexual dimorphism in structures, size and shape of the cyprinid Nilgiri melon barb, 

The morphological differences between the sexes of a species is relevant to its captive breeding, ethology, and eco-biology and are studied extensively in...

Sexual dimorphism in structures, size and shape of the cyprinid Nilgiri melon barb, Haludaria fasciata

Published Online: Oct 20, 2022

Page range: 138 - 148

Received: Apr 16, 2022

Accepted: Aug 21, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aopf-2022-0013

Keywords
Tubercles, sexual size difference, shape analysis

© 2022 Judine John Chacko et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Sexual dimorphism in structures, size and shape of the cyprinid Nilgiri melon barb, Haludaria fasciata

Published Online: Oct 20, 2022

Page range: 138 - 148

Received: Apr 16, 2022

Accepted: Aug 21, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aopf-2022-0013

KeywordsTubercles, sexual size difference, shape analysis

© 2022 Judine John Chacko et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Tubercles, sexual size difference, shape analysis