Intraspecific morphometric comparisons between the two populations of coral trout, plectropomus pessuliferus and plectropomus areolatus, in two different locations in the Sudanese Red Sea

الملخص EN

The aim of this paper is to compare two populations of coral trouts, Plectropomus pessuliferus and Plectropomus areolatus, locally known as Najil and Silimani, which inhabit two different areas of the Sudanese Red Sea in Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island National Park (DBNP) and Suakin.

The DBNP in northern Sudanese coast and Suakin in the south contain two different stock units.

Monthly samples were taken from August 2009 to August 2010.

A total of 213 and 165 P.

pessuliferus specimens and 272 and 262 P.

areolatus specimens were collected at DBNP and Suakin, respectively.

This study compared the means and ratios of morphometric measurements to evaluate the differences between these two species.

Twelve body measurements were taken, and the ratios of the total length, standard length and head length were calculated.

The pairs of means were compared using t-test.

The results of a t-test indicated that there was no significant difference between the two populations of P.

pessuliferus in these two areas under study; however, 10 of 12 morphometric measurements of P.

areolatus exhibit significant differences between these two areas.

This study indicated that there is a high possibility that P.

areolatus is comprised of two different stock units.