On the Occurrence of the Blunthead Puffer, Sphoeroides pachygaster (Osteichthyes: Tetraodontidae), in the Strait of Messina (Central Mediterranean)

Table 1

Morphometric measurements (in mm and F% of TL) and meristic counts of S. pachygaster caught in the Strait of Messina.

(a)  

Morphometric measurements	mm	% of TL
Total length (TL)	280	100,0
Standard length	245	87,5
Head length	65	23,2
Head width	45	16,1
Head height	54	19,3
Eye horizontal diameter	19	6,8
Eye vertical diameter	18	6,4
Interorbital space	28	10,0
Snout length	35	12,5
Postorbital length	30	10,7
Width of pedunculum	32	11,4
Width of gill opening	24	8,6
Predorsal length	20	7,1
Preanal length	21	7,5
Dorsal fin length	23	8,2
Dorsal fin base length	10	3,6
Anal fin length	24	8,6
Anal fin base length	10	3,6
Pectoral fin length	29	10,4
Caudal fin length	36	12,9
Body thickness	70	25,0
Body height	67	23,9
Nostril greatest diameter	6	2,1
Nostril lesser diameter	4	1,4
Internal space	28	10,0

(b)  

Meristic counts
Dortsal fin rays	8
Anal fin rays	8
Pectoral fin rays	14
Caudal fin rays	10