Sexual dimorphism in razorbelly scad (Alepes kleinii) based on morphology, meristic and truss-based morphometric characters

Alepes kleinii (Bloch, 1793), known as razorbelly scad or kite fish, is a member of the Carangidae family. Razorbelly scad does not show sexual dimorphism, so other characters are needed to distinguish male and female individuals. This study aimed to describe the morphological appearance, meristic and truss morphometric characters that can be used to distinguish male and female Razorbelly scad fish. This study used a survey method. Fish samples were taken using the purposive sampling technique. As many as 60 sample specimens were obtained from the Fish Auction Place of the Cilacap Ocean Fisheries Port Cilacap Regency. Through measurements of meristic and truss morphometric characters, it can be concluded that the meristic characteristics (such as bilaterally flat body shape, protruding mouth and terminal mouth position, forked caudal fin, cycloid scale type and conical tooth type) cannot be used as differentiators for male and female A. kleinii, while the truss morphometric characters (such as the distance from the base of the lower jaw to the tip of the snout) can. The growth analysis of morphometric characters showed that there was a linear relationship between all morphometric characters and the total length. The growth types of all morphometric truss characters in male and female Razorbelly scad fish had a negative allometric.