• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 2005

To facilitate estimation of the barbel size of a striped sea catfish, Plotosus lineatus Thumberg total length (TL) and head length (HL) against body weight (BW), HL against TL, and 1st maxillary barbel $(MxBL_1)$, 2nd maxillary barbel $(MxBL_2)$, 1st mandibular barbel $(MnBL_1)$ and 2nd mandibular barbel $(MnBL_2)$ against HL were regressed. The relationship of TL and HL for BW were described by the equation $TL=50.9373BW^{0.3072}\;(r^2=0.9898)$ and $HL=11.2938BW^{0.3144}(r^2=0.9572)$, respectively. The relationship of HL for TL was described by the linear equation $HL=0.1982TL+2.1996(r^2=0.9568)$. The relationship of each barbel for HL described by the equation of $HxBL_1=0.04420HL+0.3105(r^2=0.9615),\;MxBL_2=0.4592HL+0.5321(r^2=0.9519), MnBL_l=0.4057HL+1.9824 (r^2=0.9465)\;and\;MnBL_2=0.4355HL+1.8010(r^2=0.9429)$. Knowledge of the relative growth patterns about each barbel of this species is important for the propagation of seed as stock for large-scale striped sea catfish culture.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.158-163
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• 2005

This paper deals with the histology of the barbels of striped sea catfish, Plotosus lineatus (Thunberg). This fish have eight noticeable barbels of two pairs on their maxillary and mandibular. Each barbel is composed of an epidermis, dermis and a central rod of cartilage. The epidermis in the middle part of the maxillary barbel is thicker than those on other parts, and formed of stratified epithelium which contains many cutaneous taste buds and a few small club cells. Number of taste buds increase on the middle and posterior part of each barbel. The dermis consists of loose connective tissue fibers which encloses blood vessels and bundles of nerve fibers. The barbels of this fish can be categorized into stiff and flexible types and are accessory, feeding and sensory structures. Thus we substantiate that they are gustatory receptor organs for this fish.