Landmark-Based Morphometric Variations of Stinging Catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) Between Two Isolated Stocks

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the population status of two isolated stocks of stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) by observing the landmark-based morphometric variations. The total of 120 H. fossilis were collected from the Kopotakkho River, Kotchadpur in Jhenaidah and a hatchery, Sheikhpara in Jashore during February to March, 2019. The distance was about 50 km between two isolated stocks and age of samples was approximately six months. Ten morphometric characters and seven truss distances were measured. Significant differences were found for ten morphometric measurements such as standard length (ST), tail length (Tail L), anal fin length (AL), head width (HW), maximum barbel length (BLmx), minimum barbel length (BLmn), post-dorsal length (PsDL), pre-dorsal length (PrDL), head length (HL) and four truss measurements such as dst 2-7, dst 2-8, dst 3-7, dst 4-7 between two stocks (p<0.01). However three truss measurements such as dst 3-8, dst 4-8 and dst 5-6 did not show any significant differences between two stocks (p<0.01). There was a high degree of variation in morphological characteristics among two different stocks of H. fossilis. The variation between the hatchery and river stocks may have been due to environmental as well as genetic variations. The work is important for a prerequisite for developing management and conservation strategies of the species and may be applicable for studying short-term and environmentally induced variations. Moreover, these outcomes may helpful in performing selective breeding program for better seed production.