Sex Differentiation of Hyporhamphus limbatus Based on Morphological Traits and Regression Relationships of Some Measurements
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2025.9734Keywords:
Hyporhamphus limbatus, Mekong delta, Morphological traits, Sex differentiation, Regression relationship, Standard length, Tail heightAbstract
Hyporhamphus limbatus is a commercial value fish in the Mekong Delta, but little is known about its biological traits, especially sex differentiation using morphological characteristics and the regression relationship of some measurements, helping scientists avoid killing them in further studies; therefore, this study aimed to provide these data to this species. Samples were collected monthly at Phuoc Long and Dam Doi, using gillnets with a 1.0 cm mesh-size from May to July 2024. After collection, specimens were identified using morphological descriptions and preserved in 4 % formalin before transporting them to the laboratory for analysis. The morphological traits of 499 individuals were measured, including standard length (SL), body depth, head length, distance from the upper jaw to the dorsal fin, distance from the upper jaw to the anal fin, under jaw length, eye diameter, distance between eyes, mouth width, and tail height (CD). Males had a sharp-tipped upper jaw with asymmetrically dispersed black spots, while females had an arc-shaped, rounded upper jaw tip with evenly dispersed black spots. Males had a thin, orange-yellow upper jaw border and pale pink upper jaw surface, while females had a broader, greenish-yellow upper jaw border with a dark moss-green tip and 2 bright spots on their heads. The regression relationship between SL and CD could determine gender. Distinguishing fish sexes based on morphological traits helps reduce the number of specimens killed while studying the species’ population biology. The study highlighted the sex differentiation of Hyporhamphus limbatus through morphological traits and the regression relationship of some measurements.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Description of differences in the upper jaw’s coloration and shape between males and females used for sex differentiation.
- A new method for sexing Hyporhamphus limbatus using morphology achieved 97.8 % accuracy.
- The regression relationship between Standard length (SL) and Tail height (CD) can help determine sex.
- Provide additional data on the species as a basis for future management and research of Hyporhamphus limbatus.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Downloads
References
California Academy of Science. Genera/species by family/subfamily in Eschmeyer’s catalog of fishes, Available at: http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp, accessed April 2025.
BB Collette and J Su. The halfbeaks (Pisces, Beloniformes, Hemiramphidae) of the far east. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 1986; 138(1), 250-302.
DD Tran, K Shibukawa, TP Nguyen, PH Ha, XL Tran, VH Mai and K Utsugi. Fishes of Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Can Tho University Publisher, Can Tho, Vietnam, 2013.
R More, J Sarwade, SK Karna, V Kakade and G Markad. Fatty acids composition of Hyporhamphus limbatus (Valenciennes, 1847) from Ujani reservoir of Maharashtra, India. BIOINFOLET - A Quarterly Journal of Life Sciences 2022; 19(1), 21-23.
VH Nguyen. Freshwater fish of Vietnam. Agriculture Publishing House, Ha Noi, Vietnam, 2005.
AKA Rahman. Freshwater fishes of Bangladesh. Zoological Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2005.
WJ Rainboth. Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 1996.
PK Talwar and AG Jhingran. Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries. Oxford-IBH Publishing, New Delhi, India, 1991.
AL Bhuiyan. Fishes of Dacca. Asiatic Society of Pakistan, Dacca, Bangladesh, 1964.
QM Dinh, LT Tran and NTY Nguyen. The flexibility of morphometric and meristic measurements of Periophthalmodon septemradiatus (Hamilton, 1822) in Hau river. Journal of Science and Technology 2018; 187(11), 81-90.
BS Shepherd, CB Rees, OJ Sepulveda-Villet, DE Palmquist and FP Binkowski. Identification of gender in yellow perch by external morphology: Validation in four geographic strains and effects of estradiol. North American Journal of Aquaculture 2013; 75(3), 361-372.
QM Dinh, THD Nguyen, GH Phan and VLT Nguyen. The morphological variation and sex determination of tank goby Glossogobius giuris distributing in some provinces in Mekong Delta. Science and Technology Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development 2021; 10, 141-145.
DM Quang, NHD Ton and NTK Tien. Allometry variation in morphometrics of Glossogobius sparsipapillus caught along Hau river, from Can Tho to Soc Trang provinces. TNU Journal of Science and Technology 2021; 226 (5), 3-7.
TQ Phan, AN Tran, LTT Vo and QM Dinh. Sex discrimination based on morphological traits in Mystus mysticetus Roberts, 1992. Veterinary Integrative Sciences 2022; 20(3), 659-667.
ND Linh, NHD Ton and DM Quang. Sex discrimination based on morphological traits in squaretail mullet Ellochelon vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825). TNU Journal of Science and Technology 2022; 227(5), 132-136.
PLH Nguyen, LTC Tran, TTA Phan, TK Nguyen, LTT Vo and QM Dinh. Morphometrics allometry changes and sexual dimorphism in Caragobius urolepis (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae). Veterinary Integrative Sciences 2023; 21(1), 29-36.
PN Nguyen, TTA Phan, TK Nguyen, VV Ly, TTT Thai and QM Dinh. Sex differentiation via the relationship between some morphological measurements of Mystus albolineatus caught from Cai Rang-Can Tho and Long Phu-Soc Trang. Veterinary Integrative Sciences 2024; 22(2), 379-386.
QM Dinh. Aspects of reproductive biology of the red goby Trypauchen vagina (Gobiidae) from the Mekong Delta. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 2018; 34, 103-110.
G Minos, L Kokokiris and M Kentouri. Allometry of external morphology and sexual dimorphism in the red porgy (Pagrus pagrus). Belgian Journal of Zoology 2008; 138(1), 90-94.
PN Nguyen, TTA Phan, TK Nguyen, VV Ly, TTT Thai and QM Dinh. Sex differentiation via the relationship between some morphological measurements of Mystus albolineatus caught from Cai Rang-Can Tho and Long Phu-Soc Trang. Veterinary Integrative Sciences 2024; 22(2), 379-386.
QM Dinh and TTM Le. Reproductive traits of the duckbill sleeper Butis butis (Hamilton, 1822). Zoological Science 2017; 34(5), 452-458.
QM Dinh, LT Tran, NC Ngo, TB Pham and TTK Nguyen. Reproductive biology of the unique mudskipper Periophthalmodon septemradiatus living from estuary to upstream of the Hau River. Acta Zoologica 2020; 101(2), 206-217.
QM Dinh, THD Nguyen, TTH Lam, NT Truong, TTK Nguyen and Z Jaafar. Reproduction ecology of an emerging fishery resource, the amphibious mudskipper Periophthalmus chrysospilos, in the Mekong Delta. Ecology and Evolution 2022; 12(1), e8507.
GE Scarsella, JD Gresham and RL Earley. Relationships between external sexually dimorphic characteristics and internal gonadal morphology in a sex‐changing fish. Journal of Zoology 2018; 305(2), 133-140.
AL Ibáñez, E Guerra and E Pacheco-Almanzar. Fish species identification using the rhombic squamation pattern. Frontiers in Marine Science 2020; 7, 211.
RG Coss and CL Tyler. African jewel fish (Hemichromis bimaculatus) distinguish individual faces based on their unique iridophore patterns. Animal Cognition 2023; 26(4), 1411-1421.
YJ Kim, CI Zhang, IS Park, JH Na and P Olin. Sexual dimorphism in morphometric characteristics of Korean chub Zacco koreanus (Pisces, Cyprinidae). Journal of Ecology and Environment 2008; 31(2), 107-113.
A Obi. Sex determination in Heterotis niloticus (Cuvier 1829) based on morphometric features. ASSET: An International Journal 2010; 6(1), 22-30.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Walailak University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
