Taxonomical Study of Planiliza abu in Garmat Ali River, Iraq

(Abdul-Razak M. Mohamed, Abdullah N. Abood and Sadik A. Hussein)

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Abstract

The species of Mugilidae are characterized by a remarkably uniform external morphology, therefore this study aims to describe abu mullet, Planiliza (Liza) abu (Heckel, 1843) in Qarmat Ali River, North Basrah, Iraq depending on the morphometric and meristic characters and electrophoretic analysis of lateral muscle proteins by SDS-PAGE. Fish were collected by gill nets between December 2008 and November 2009. 26 morphometric and 17 meristic characters were adopted and were compatible with the taxonomic characteristics of the species. The regression analysis using data of various morphometric measurements on standard length revealed a highly significant relationship, suggesting that P. abu showed high degree of similarity in growth of its morphological characters. There are seven protein bands in muscles of this species and their molecular weights varied from 5.77?g to 22.15?g. The results showed that the morphometric data and electrophoresis analysis of proteins were successful in identifying of P. abu from other mullets in Iraqi waters. Key Words: Abu mullet (Planiliza abu), Iraq, Morphometric and meristic characters, SDS-PAGE analysis.
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