Meristic variation and skeletal anomalies of wild and reared sharpsnout seabream juveniles (Diplodus puntazzo, Cetti 1777) off coastal Sicily, Mediterranean Sea

摘要

Sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo, Cetti 1777) is a highly valued species, especially in the countries around theTyrrhenian Sea, but there are few studies that deal with characterization of the wild phenotype and comparison with reared juvenilespecimens from hatcheries (Costa 1998; Favaloro 1999) or growth of reared sharpsnout seabream (Favaloro & Mazzola 2000), and no information is reported about differences in anomalies between wild and reared adults at market size (300-400 g). In the past,some information on the meristic character count of wild sharpsnout seabream was reported by Bini (1968), Tortonese (1975), Whitehead, Bauchot, Hureau, Nielsen & Tortonese (1986) and Fischer, Schneider & Bauchot (1987). Body malformations may be causedby environmental factors (biotic and abiotic factors; Paperna 1978; Sloof 1982; Treasurer 1992) and are often determined in the first stage of development (MacGregor & MacCrimmon 1977).