Relationships Between Shell Morphological Traits and the Byssus Dimensions in the Winged Pearl Oyster Pteria penguin (Röding, 1798) Cultivated in Sanya, Hainan Island, China

ABSTRACT The relationships of the shell morphological traits, including the byssus dimensions, were recorded and analyzed in sample groups of 18- and 30-mo-old cultured winged pearl oysters, Pteria penguin. All relationships among shell dimensional traits with respect to shell height (SH) in the 18- and 30-mo-old oysters were observed to be positive and significant (P < 0.05). Although allometric growth was observed in both groups, the r2 values in the relationship between SH and total wet weight (TW) were higher in old oysters than in young ones. These findings indicate that weight in young oysters is heterogeneous. Moreover, the TW—SH ratio showed a clearer tendency to increase relative to exterior dimensions in old oysters. The r2 values in the correlation between SH and maximum dorso-ventral length were the highest in both oyster groups; hence, this dimension is a reliable predictor of SH. On the other hand, the relationships between SH and either hinge length or shell thickness were slightly weak in ...