Morphometric measurements applied in the evaluation of Arapaima gigas body components

This study was carried out to evaluate morphometry and direct and indirect effects of measurements and morphometric relationships on the weight of pirarucu body components. A total of 96 fish were raised in captivity at the Federal University of Rondônia, Presidente Médici - RO, Brazil, with a mean body weight of 9.18 ± 0.1 kg and 104 ± 0.3 cm in length. After desensitizing, the fish were sacrificed, weighed and morphometric measurements of total (TL), standard (SL), head (HL), trunk (LA) and tail (CL) lengths and frontal perimeter (FP), larger perimeter (LP) and tail perimeter (CP) were determined. The fish were dissected and the following body components were measured: leather (with scales), head, viscera and carcass divided into meat layer and spines. The data were submitted to descriptive and multiple regression analyses and the correlation coefficients were separated into direct and indirect effects by a path analysis. Most of the measurements and morphometric ratios showed significant correlations with body weights and body components (carcass, head, meat layer, leather, viscera and spines). LP showed a greater direct and positive effect and was determinant for the variation of total weight and meat layer weight.