Nuralim Pasisingi, Abdul Hafidz Olii, Miftahul Khair Kadim, Agustina, Tutik Handayani, Tri Apriadi
Sex-related phenotypic variation provides important information for understanding population structure and local fishery resources, but it remains poorly documented in many halfbeak species. This study examined sex-related phenotypic variation in the marine halfbeak H. lutkei (Valenciennes, 1847) from the Paguyaman Pantai waters, Gorontalo, Indonesia. Fish were collected 150–300 m from the shoreline using a trawl net (225 m length, 1–1.4-inch mesh) operated at depths of 20–30 m during March, April, and August 2025. A total of 340 specimens were analyzed, consisting of 171 males and 169 females. Sex was determined by gonadal inspection through ventral dissection. Morphometric traits were standardized by total length (TL) and statistically compared between sexes using Welch's t-test (q < 0.05), with multiple comparisons adjusted using the Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) procedure, whereas meristic traits were analyzed descriptively. Females showed larger absolute body size than males, with higher mean TL and body weight. After TL standardization and FDR adjustment, only middle caudal fin length relative to TL (MCFL/TL) and eye diameter relative to TL (ED/TL) remained significantly different between sexes, with males showing higher proportional values for both traits. Conversely, fin ray and gill raker counts displayed minimal sex-related variation. These findings indicate limited but detectable sex-related morphometric variation in H. lutkei from Paguyaman Pantai waters and provide baseline information for local population assessment and fisheries monitoring. © 2026, Egyptian Society for the Development of Fisheries and Human Health. All rights reserved.
Aquatic Resources Management Study Programme, Faculty of Marine and Fisheries Technology, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman 6, Gorontalo Province, Gorontalo City, 96128, Indonesia; Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Papua University, Jalan Gunung Salju, Amban, Manokwari, 98314, Indonesia; Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Maritime Raja Ali Haji University, Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands Province, 29111, Indonesia
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