The European conger eel Conger conger represents an important economic resource. Previous studies have provided some information about the biometry of C. conger. This paper presents the first research on biometrical parameters and biological indices of this species in Tunisia. Our sample includes 353 specimens, among them 66.57% females, 32.29% of undetermined sex and only 1.13% males. The length and weight of specimens ranged from 25.5 to 135 cm and from 17.26 to 5087 g, respectively. For the meristic characteristics, the number of pre-pectoral pores was 6, the total number of pre-anal pores ranged between 44 and 47 and the total number of vertebrae varied between 148 and 154. Five allometric relationships were examined. The comparisons of slope and intercept show differences between individuals of determined sex (males and females grouped) and those of undetermined sex. Analysis of the weight-length relationship showed a positive allometric growth. Our data provided the first investigation on the seasonal variation of three bio-physiological indices ; the condition factor does not show variations among seasons, the gonadosomatic index variation reinforces the hypothesis that sexual maturation of C. conger females occurs during the migration from coastal waters towards spawning areas in the deep sea and the hepatosomatic index was highest in spring for females. Since C. conger is widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, our contribution allows useful comparisons and clarifies the morphological and bio-physiological aspects of this species.
Authors' Contributions IBS and ABI conceived and designed the study. They also acquired, analysed and interpreted the data. MC and SN participated in drafting and revising the article.
Apodemus sylvaticus (Linnaeus 1758) is a nocturnal rodent (Muridae), it is frequent in regions with soft and humid climate. This study takes on specimens captured in Lansarine, a region from the North of Tunisia. The Karyological study show us that the diploid number of the current population is stable in comparison with the European populations (Spain, Czech Republic), it is equal to 48 chromosomes with a fundamental number of autosomes equal to 46. The morphometric analysis, with body (T + C ; Q ; O ; PP ; Pds) (Chappelier 1927) and cranial parameters (LT ; lBC ; D ; MS ; CB) (Chimimba & Dippenaar 1995) considered, show us that our measurements integrate perfectly with the limits established by other authors in Tunisia. However, we find out some differences with other populations studied in Europe (Turkey, France), indeed our specimens looks bigger. Those differences are probably due to climat and the nature of diet.
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