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Length–weight relationships in syngnathid species from Tunisian waters (central Mediterranean)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2011

M.M. Ben Amor ,
M. Ben Salem ,
C. Reynaud  and
C. Capapé
M.M. Ben Amor*
Affiliation:
National Institute of Sea Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), Fishing Port 2060, La Goulette, Tunisia Unité de Recherches Zoologie et Ecologie des Milieux aquatiques, Faculté des Sciences of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, Tunisia
M. Ben Salem
Affiliation:
Unité de Recherches Zoologie et Ecologie des Milieux aquatiques, Faculté des Sciences of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, Tunisia
C. Reynaud
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur la Didactique, l'Éducation et la Formation, E.A. 3749, case 77, Université Montpellier II, Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, 34 095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
C. Capapé
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur la Didactique, l'Éducation et la Formation, E.A. 3749, case 77, Université Montpellier II, Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, 34 095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: M.M. Ben Amor, National Institute of Sea Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), Fishing Port 2060, La Goulette, Tunisia email: benamor7@yahoo.fr
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Abstract

Length–weight relationships of four pipefish and two seahorse species from Tunisian waters are presented in this paper: the straight-nosed pipefish Nerophis ophidion, the black-striped piperfish Syngnathus abaster, the greater pipefish S. acus, the deep-snouted piperfish S. typhle, the short snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus and the long-snouted seahorse Hippocampus. ramulosus. Overall, 2424 specimens of these six syngnathid species were weighed and measured. The sample size ranged from 14 for N. ophidion to 1773 for H. ramulosus. The values of the slope b in the length–weight relationships (W = aLb) varied between 1.836 (S. typhle) and 5.476 (N. ophidion). Linear regressions of length–weight relationships were significant for all species. We have calculated a positive allometry in weight versus length for N. ophidion, an isometry for H. hippocampus and H. ramulosus and a negative allometry for S. abaster, S. acus and S. typhle.

Keywords

OsteichthyesSyngnathidaelength–weight relationshipTunisian waterscentral Mediterranean
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 4 , December 2011 , e44
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2011

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References

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