Morphometric and Meristic Differences Between Two Types of Palla, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton) from River Indus, Pakistan

Abstract

The comparative study of two types of palla, Tenualosa ilisha was based on 280 specimens (out of which 160 belonged to type A and 120 to type B) collected from river Indus from October 2004 to September 2005. The study revealed significant intertype differences in six morphometric measurements (total length, standard length, fork length, head length, eye diameter and girth) and seven meristic characters (total number of scutes, pre pelvic scutes, post pelvic scutes, dorsal fin rays, pectoral fin rays, pelvic fin rays and anal fin rays). Length-weight relationship, condition factor values and GSI values were also different in summer and winter types of T. ilisha.