Morphometric characteristic and sexual dimorphism of the black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus, 1758 from the coastal zone of the Black Sea (Magri, Bolshoy Sochi)

The values of 9 meristic and 44 morphometric characters of the black scorpionfish from the coastal waters of the Black Sea (Magri, Bolshoy Sochi) are described in this paper. The degree of variation of morphometric characters was significantly higher than of the meristic characters. The presence of sexual dimorphism was identified by the relative values of four morphometric characters: pectoral fin length, caudal fin length, snout length, and vertical diameter of the eye. Morphotype of juvenile specimens was similar to male morphotype. They had differences in the values of three characters. Juveniles and females had differences in the values of nine characters.