VARIABILITÀ MORFOLOGICA DELLA TRIGLIA DI FANGO (MULLUS BARBATUS, LINNAEUS, 1758) LUNGO LA COSTA NORD-OCCIDENTALE DELLA SICILIA

A morphometric analysis was carried out among red mullet specimens collected in 3 localities along the NW Sicily. Geometric morphometrics and multivariate statistical techniques were used to investigate the effect on the shape of red mullet specimens which use resources from coastal sandy-muddy bottoms and gravel-detritic grounds. Significant morphological differences were detected between specimens inhabiting the different types of substrata.