Back-calculation of total length of Argentine seabass Acanthistius patachonicus using morphometric relationships of bones and measurements of the body

Abstract

Predictive regression equations were generated to estimate total length of the Argentine seabass (A. patachonicus) using skull and pectoral girdle bones, specific body and otolith lengths. Regressions of skull and pectoral girdle bones, specific body and otolith lengths were all statistically significant. Generating regressions of the bony and external characteristics of the fish body meaningfully increases the ability to analyse the information that can be obtained from the study of the stomach contents of predators of fish from the southwest Atlantic.