Intraspecific Morphological Variation in Two Common Marine Fish Species from South Africa

Keywords

Argyrosomus inodorus, feeding niche, geometric morphometrics, intraspecific variation, marine fish, morphology, Pterogymnus laniarius

Abstract

Intraspecific morphological variation in fish is typically associated with sexual dimorphism, or one of three common environmental gradients: variation in intensity of predation, variation in water velocity, or variation in feeding niche. The preponderance of examples of environment-associated morphological variation within fish species has been documented in freshwater systems. It is not clear whether environment-associated intraspecific morphological variation is less common in marine fishes or whether there has just been a lack of investigation. We used geometric morphometric analysis to quantify shape variation in two species of South African marine fish commonly harvested for human consumption, Pterogymnus laniarius (panga), and Argyrosomus inodorus (silver kob). Neither species exhibited significant sexual dimorphism, but both species exhibited significant intraspecific morphological variation. This variation appears consistent with patterns expected from variation along the benthic-pelagic feeding niche continuum.

Original Publication Citation

Mattson, Eric, and Mark C. Belk. 2013. Intraspecific morphological variation in two common marine fish species from South Africa. The Open Fish Science Journal 6:87-91.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2013-11-29

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/8157

Publisher

The Open Fish Science Journal

Language

English

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

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