title: Pectoral spine size in Synodontis schall (Teleostei: Mochokidae) from Asa Lake, Ilorin, Nigeria.
abstract: The pectoral spines of Synodontis schall (n = 813) were examined for 24 months. Mean length for the right (3.2 cm) and left (3.1 cm) pectoral spines were not significantly different [P > 0.05]. However, the male and female pectoral spine lengths were significantly different (P < 0.05). A fractured pectoral spine in one of the specimens was shorter than the other. The fracture which could be deleterious to balancing, feeding and reproductive activities was attributed to an injury rather than to genetic or epigenetic defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Fisheries & Hydrobiology Laboratory, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Contact Address: P.O. Box 5565, Ilorin, Nigeria. araoye@ilorin.skannet.com
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Araoye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria