Morphometric and meristic traits of three ambassid fish species (Chanda nama, Parambassis lala and Parambassis ranga)

Abstract

This research describes the first complete and inclusive information on morphometric and meristic characteristics of three Ambassid species (<em>Chanda nama</em>, <em>Parambassis lala</em> and <em>Parambassis ranga</em>) from the Mathabhanga River collected during August 2017 to July 2018. In our study, range of the total length was 2.0–7.2 cm for <em>C. nama</em>; 1.7-3.9 cm for <em>P. lala</em> and 1.9-6.4 cm for <em>P. ranga.</em> All length-weight relationships were highly significant (<em>p </em>< 0.001) with <em>r² </em>values ≥ 0.900 (except W <em>vs. </em>PrDL relationship in <em>P. lala</em>, where, <em>r²</em>= 0.861). Also, all length-length relationships were highly correlated with <em>r²</em> values being ≥ 0.900. Based on <em>r²</em> value, W <em>vs.</em> FL and TL <em>vs.</em> FL was best fitted model for all the three species among the 11 equations. The calculated fin formula is: dorsal, D. 21–22 (VIII/13–14); pectoral, P₁. 8–10 (2/6–8); pelvic, P₂. 6 (I/5); anal, A. 17-18 (III/14–15); and caudal, C. 20–22 (4/16–18) for <em>C. nama</em>; D. 20–21 (VIII/12–13); P₁. 8–9 (1-2/7); P₂. 6 (I/5); A. 16-18 (III/13–15); C. 18–20 (4-6/14) for <em>P. lala</em> and D. 20–21 (VIII/12–13); P₁. 9–10 (2/7–8); P₂. 6 (I/5); A. 18-20 (III/15–17); C. 22–24 (4-6/18) for <em>P. ranga. </em>These outcomes will be a functional tool for identification of Ambassid fishes up to species level in any water-bodies of Bangladesh as well as in the adjacent countries.