kareem Zaayr Negaud^(1)*

 (1). Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Al- Muthanna  University, Iraq

(*Corresponding author: kareem Zaayr Email: karem.zaer@mu.edu.iq)

Received: 21/08/2023                 Accepted: 17/10/2023

Abstract: 

The present study examined 19 morphological and 10 numerical traits of Tilapia fish that are recorded in Al-Muthanna Governorate, included three species: Coptodon Zilli, Oreochromis aureus, and Oreochromis niloticus. The study included demonstrating the differences in the morphological and numerical characteristics of the three species, the correlation coefficient between total length and these characteristics, and length-weight relationship for the three types. The Fish samples included (60) samples, 20 for each type, which were collected from local fishermen in the three districts of Al-Muthanna Governorate, which are Al-Samawah, Al-Khader, and Al-Rumaitha. The total lengths of the samples for the three types, Oreochromis niloticus, Oreochromis aureus, and Coptodon Zilli ranged from (16.5-24), (16.8-23), and (17-21) cm, respectively.and their weights ranged from (100-300.6), (98-222.3), (68.7-174.7) g respectively. the value of (b) for length-weight relationship was (3.14, 2.55, and 2.34) for O. niloticus, O. aureus, and Coptodon Zilli, respectively, the number of rays in the dorsal fin of Coptodon Zilli and Oreochromis aureus ranges between (12-13) spines and for Oreochromis niloticus was (11-13). On the other hand, the number of spines ranges between (14-16) for Coptodon Zilli, (15-16) for Oreochromis aureus, and (16-18) for Oreochromis niloticus. The number of rays in the anal fin of the Oreochromis aureus, and Oreochromis niloticus ranges from (9-10) rays, and (8-10) rays for Coptodon Zilli. The number of spines in the anal fin of the three species was 3, while the number of rays and spines in the pectoral fin was 5 rays and one spine. The number of scales on the lateral line of the three species, O. niloticus, O. aureus, and Coptodon Zilli, ranged (31-40), (27-34), and (24-31), respectively. The number of Gill reckers in the first gill arch of the three species was 27-34, 21-26, and 14-16 for O. niloticus, O. aureus, and Coptodon Zilli, respectively. The results of the statistical analysis showed that there is a strong correlation between the total length and most of the Morphometric traits of the three species, except for length of the largest ray of the dorsal fin in Coptodon Zilli, as the correlation was negative and weak with eye diameter, length of anal fin base and length of caudal peduncle, while the meristic traits did not show any correlation or it was weak with the total length

Key words: Morphometric, meristic, Tilapia, Al-Muthanna, Iraq. 

Full paper in Arabic: pdf