Sains Malaysiana 39(5)(2010): 697–704

Size, Growth and Age of Two Congeneric Archer Fishes (Toxotes jaculatrix Pallas, 1767 and Toxotes chatareus Hamilton, 1822) Inhabiting Malaysian Coastal Waters

(Saiz, Pertumbuhan dan Penentuan Umur Dua Spesies Ikan Sumpit Kongenerik (Toxotes jaculatrix Pallas, 1767 dan Toxotes chatareus  Hamilton, 1822) dari Persisir Pantai Perairan Malaysia)

K.D. Simon

Marine Science Programme, School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences

Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

A.G. Mazlan*, A. Samat & C.C. Zaidi

Marine Ecosystem Research Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

A. Aziz

Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture II

Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

Received: 15 April 2009 / Accepted: 10 March 2010

ABSTRACT

The size, growth and age of two congeneric archer fishes Toxotes jaculatrix and Toxotes chatareus collected from Johor coastal waters, Malaysia was studied. The standard length (SL) and body weight (BW) ranges of the two species caught in the study area were 7-12.2 cm SL (9.35±0.19 cm), 11-55 g BW (27.04±1.62 g) and 8-12.2 cm SL (9.88±0.17cm), 15.12-54g BW (30.52±1.72 g), respectively. The ratio of male and female specimens of T. jaculatrix and T. chatareus were 70%, 30% and 68.6%, 31.4%, respectively. The estimated von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L_∞ = 12.78 cm, 13.59 cm and K = 1.46 year^-1, 1.53 year^-1 with a growth performance index of Ø’ = 5.48 and 5.64 in both species, respectively. In order to determine the age, the technique of reading and interpretation of the daily growth increments/rings in the sagittae otoliths and scales were applied. Daily growth increments and annulus of scales counts confirmed that the ages of the samples for both species were typically less than one year (<1) and the remnant samples were between one and two years. The similarity between scale and otolith age determination was identical and dissimilarity was observed only in few samples of both species.

Keywords: Growth; otolith; scale; size; Toxotes chatareus; Toxotes jaculatrix

ABSTRAK

Saiz, tumbesaran dan umur bagi dua spesies ikan sumpit Toxotes jaculatrix dan Toxotes chatareus yang dikumpul dari perairan persisir Johor, Malaysia telah dikaji. Julat panjang piawai (SL) dan berat badan (BW) bagi kedua-dua spesies yang telah ditangkap dari kawasan kajian adalah masing-masing 7-12.2 cm SL (9.35±0.19 cm), 11-55 g BW (27.04±1.62 g) dan 8-12.2 cm SL (9.88±0.17 cm), 15.12-54 g BW (30.52±1.72 g). Nisbah spesimen jantan dan betina untuk T. jaculatrix dan T. chatareus adalah masing-masing 70%, 30% dan 68.6%, 31.4%. Parameter tumbesaran von Bertalanffy yang dianggarkan daripada populasi ikan tersebut ialah L_∞ = 12.78 cm, 13.59 cm dan K = 1.46 tahun^-1, 1.53 tahun^-1 dengan suatu indeks keupayaan tumbesaran Ø’ = 5.48 dan 5.64 masing-masing bagi kedua-dua spesies. Bagi menentukan umur, teknik membaca dan menterjemahkan peningkatan tumbesaran harian/gegelang dalam otolith sagita dan sisek telah diguna pakai. Pengiraan peningkatan tumbesaran harian pada gegelang anulus sisek mengesahkan bahawa umur bagi kebanyakan spesies ikan yang dikaji adalah kurang dari satu tahun manakala bakinya adalah antara 1 dam 2 tahun. Kesamaan penentuan umur antara sisik dan otolith didapati sama dengan sedikit perbezaan pada sejumlah kecil sampel bagi kedua-dua spesies.

Kata kunci: Otolith; saiz; sisek; Toxotes chatareus; Toxotes jaculatrix; tumbesaran

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*Corresponding author; email: magfish05@yahoo.com or mag@ukm.my