BIOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE EUROPEAN HAKE, Merluccius Merluccius (OSTEICHTHYES: MERLUCCIIDAE), FROM THE CENTRAL ADRIATIC SEA

The relationship between morphometric measurements (16) and meristic characters (6) was examined in 460 specimens of the European hake (225 females, 210 males and 25 immature ones) caught in the central Adriatic Sea. Mor- phological difference between males and females was not marked. Biometric analyses of the morphometric and meristic characteristics indicated a homogenous morphology stock of M. merluccius in the central Adriatic Sea. Changes in some morphometric characteristics obtained in conjunction with an increase in body length showed that smaller specimens have a longer head, anal and ventral fin than adult specimens. The negative correlation recorded for the maximum and minimum body depth indicated that the body becomes progressively elongated. The meristic characteristics of the Euro- pean hake from different Mediterranean and NE Atlantic areas are mostly in agreement with the data in our study.