• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.507-517
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• 2020

Several methods including morphometric analysis were used to distinguish small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) from yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), which have very similar external shapes. Morphometric analysis showed four considerable differences (p<0.05) among the total 48 morphometric dimensions, but no differences were seen in the classical dimensions (p>0.05). Rather, significant differences were seen in two truss dimensions: Insertion of dorsal fin base - origin of pectoral fin base and origin of anal fin base - origin of pectoral fin base, and two head part dimension: most anterior extension of the head - above of eye and above of eye - posterior aspect of operculum(p<0.05). However, the yellow croaker had higher values than the small yellow croaker in the other three morphometric dimensions except for the head part dimension of above of eye - posterior aspect of operculum of the four morphometric dimensions (p<0.05). The X-ray photographs indicated that the small yellow croaker (45.1±2.34°) had 8.4% more curved vertebral column than the yellow croaker(38.4±1.82°). A diamond-shaped cranium was found when the skin was peeled off from both fish but the commonly held fact that only the small yellow croaker has a diamond-shaped cranium is not accurate. Our results confirmed that the two fish could be definitely distinguished by their external body shape.