The sexual dimorphism of the arctic sculpin Myoxocephalus scorpioides (Cottidae) from Provideniya Bay, Bering Sea
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33910/2686-9519-2026-18-1-159-168Keywords:
arctic sculpin Myoxocephalus scorpioides, Cottidae, Bering Sea, sexual dimorphism, variabilityAbstract
For the first timeThe sexual dimorphism of the arctic sculpin Myoxocephalus scorpioides from Provideniya Bay, Bering Sea, was studied for the first time. Individuals of different sexes differed in 10 of the 23 plastic features studied. Males were characterized by significantly larger fin sizes (the height of the 1st ray of the 1st dorsal fin, the greatest height of the 1st and 2nd dorsal fins, the length of the caudal, pectoral and pelvic fins, and the length of the base of the anal fin) and certain head proportions (the interorbital distance, the length of the upper jaw), but with a smaller orbital distance. In addition, sexual differences were observed in the morphology and development of the ossicles lateral line canal, as well as in the location and size of the bony plaques and plates above them. The results of the study showed that the most reliable feature for determining the sex of M. scorpioides is the presence (in males) or absence (in females) of spots above the anal fin, at the base and on the interradial folds of the pectoral fins, as well as on the first dorsal fin.
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