Morphometric and meristic traits of three ambassid fish species (Chanda nama, Parambassis lala and Parambassis ranga).

This research describes the first complete and inclusive information on morphometric and meristic characteristics of three Ambassid species (Chanda nama, Parambassis lala and Parambassis ranga) from the Mathabhanga River collected during August 2017 to July 2018. In our study, range of the total length was 2.0-7.2 cm for C. nama; 1.7-3.9 cm for P. lala and 1.9-6.4 cm for P. ranga. All length-weight relationships were highly significant (p < 0.001) with r² values ≥ 0.900 (except W vs. PrDL relationship in P. lala, where, r² = 0.861). Also, all length-length relationships were highly correlated with r² values being ≥ 0.900. Based on r² value, W vs. FL and TL vs. FL was best fitted model for all the three species among the 11 equations. The calculated fin formula is: dorsal, D. 21-22 (VIII/13-14); pectoral, P₁. 8-10 (2/6-8); pelvic, P₂. 6 (I/5); anal, A. 17-18 (III/14-15); and caudal, C. 20-22 (4/16-18) for C. nama; D. 20-21 (VIII/12-13); P1. 8-9 (1-2/7); P₂. 6 (I/5); A. 16-18 (III/13-15); C. 18-20 (4-6/14) for P. lala and D. 20-21 (VIII/12-13); P₁. 9-10 (2/7-8); P₂. 6 (I/5); A. 18-20 (III/15-17); C. 22-24 (4-6/18) for P. ranga. These outcomes will be a functional tool for identification of Ambassid fishes up to species level in any water-bodies of Bangladesh as well as in the adjacent countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]