A TAXONOMIC STUDY OF THE BARONANG FISH Siganus fuscescens (Houttuyn, 1782) BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE WATERS OF THE SPERMONDE ISLANDS

Abstract

Siganus fuscescens, a herbivorous fish, is integral to the equilibrium of coastal ecosystems and possesses economic significance for local communities. Despite its importance, taxonomic research focusing on the morphological characteristics of this species in the Spermonde Islands' waters is relatively scarce. This study seeks to investigate the taxonomy of S. fuscescens through morphometric and meristic analyses. Fifty specimens were procured from the Paotere Fish Auction Market in Makassar, representing catches from the Spermonde Islands' waters. Morphometric characters were measured using a digital caliper, while meristic characters were assessed by counting spines and fin rays, followed by analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The study's findings confirm that the morphological characteristics of the specimens align with the diagnostic features of S. fuscescens. The primary meristic characters are conserved at the genus level, whereas variations in the number of pectoral and caudal fin rays may serve as distinguishing features between species. PCA indicated that over 95% of morphological variation is attributable to body size, with minimal variation in shape. These results underscore the efficacy of morphometric, meristic, and multivariate analysis approaches in facilitating the taxonomic identification of S. fuscescens and enhancing the understanding of its morphological characteristics in the Spermonde Islands' waters.