Phenotypic affinities of 11 species of Australian mullet (Pisces : Mugilidae)

Abstract

The phenotypic affinities of 11 species of Australian mullet are examined using, principally, canonical variate analysis of 32 external body characteristics measured on individuals of each species.

The body forms of four species of Liza and two of Mugil are compared within genera. All species proved to be distinct on the basis of the measured variables and the major discriminators proved to be the locations and relative sizes of the caudal, pectoral and first dorsal fins. Some degree of sexual dimorphism was evidenced in the analyses.

In a combined analysis of all 11 species, no generic groupings of species were noted. One species, Rhinomugil nasutus: proved to be substantially different in body shape from the remainder. The Mahalanobis distance between Myxus elongatus and Liza argentea was not significant although the distances between all other species were. As shown by a minimum spanning tree analysis, M. elongatus occupies a central position and its relationships require further elucidation. The major discriminators in the combined analysis were again fin locations and relative sizes although some other body depth and width characteristics served to separate R. nasutus from the remaining species.