Abstract

Morphological differences among stocks of Pakistan, North Arabian Sea yellow fin sea bream, Acanthopagrus arabicus, including Sindh and Balochistan coasts, were examined using morphometric and meristic characters. Collections were obtained from two main fish harbors, situated in two provinces of Pakistan from September 2017 to August 2018. Twenty morphometric and eight meristic characters were documented and correlation coefficient (r) was investigated with independent variable (total length) and dependent variable (other morphometric parameters). The results confirm that majority of morphometric characters are greatly correlated to total length in all seasons. The total length ranges from 12.00 - 41.00 cm and 13.00 - 36.00 cm whereas total weight ranges from 31.00 - 1236.00 g and 34.00 - 595.00 g were recorded for Acanthopagrus arabicus, which were collected from Karachi fish harbor and Dam, Sonmiani fish harbor respectively. Condition factor ranged from 1.431 to 1.678 at Karachi and from 1.595 to 1.930 at Sonmiani in different seasons. Our present study in future could be useful to the students, fisheries biologist and taxonomist for the correct identification and classification of A. arabicus found in different location of Pakistan as well as management and conservation of this species.