Volumen 42 - Número 1: 1-5 | 2007
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Estimation of body size using morphometric relationships of head bones, pectoral fin bones and bony precaudal distance in Raneya brasiliensis (Kaup, 1856) (Pisces, Ophidiiformes, Ophidiidae) in Patagonian waters

Atila E. Gosztonyi^1*, Luisa Kuba¹ and Lidia E. Mansur¹

¹Centro Nacional Patagónico. Bvd. Brown s/n. (9120) Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

*This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The ophidiid fish Raneya brasiliensis (Kaup, 1856), is a key link in the Southwestern Patagonian higher level food web. Predictive regression equations were calculated to estimate total length in this species, using head length, various head bone lengths, cleithrum length and bony precaudal length as the independent variables. Logtransformed data gave the best fits in the equations obtained.

Key words: Piscivory, marine mammals, marine birds, Argentine Patagonia