The Morphological Structure of Gatul Fish (Poecilia reticulata) in Small Stream inFaculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, State University of

Malang

Nuzula Khoirun Nafsiah1, Oki Osaka Herlinawati1, Safrida Hidayatul Azizah1

1Biology Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural sciences, State University of Malang , Malang, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aim to describethe morphological structure of male and female gatul fish (Poecilia Reticulata). The sampel taken from small streams in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, State University of Malang. The study was conducted by observing the morphological structure of female and male gatul fish that include morphological aspects: the location of the body parts, body size, body color, types of scales, fin-type, the type of tail and the fundamental difference between males and female gatul fish. From this study, the results showed that the general characteristics of the fish is has small scales like a net, has a pair of eyes that located in the head on right and left sides of the body, the shape of tail is tapered tail, the colour scales of lower abdomen is white, the colour of the scale of the head to the upper abdomen is black, and the colour of rear body to tail is transparent. However, the morphological structure of the male and female Gatul fish have difference. Male gatul fish has two pairs of black spots on its body and its body shape is slim. But, female gatul fish does not have spots and its body is biger than female gatul fish with a big white abdomen. The colormale gatulfish is more attractive than female gatul fish. This attractive colors are used to attract the attention of female gatul fish.

Keywords: Gatul fish,the difference morphological between male and female gatul fish, attractive color.

IntroductionGatul fish (Poecilia Reticulata) is a

small colourful species of freshwater tropical fish that is found naturally in the rivers and lakes of South America Based on the clasification system, gatul fish is included on animalia kingdom, Chordata Phylum, Actinopterygiiclass, Cyprinodontiformes order, Poeciliidae family and Poecilia genus (Anonim, 2008).

Gatul Fish is adaptable species that occurs in almost every imaginable biotope, from high-altitude streams to turbid swamps and ditches. Some populations also exist in brackish conditions. However

it does tend to thrive best in habitats with lush growths of algae, marginal vegetation and/or aquatic plants (Peter, 1859)

Poecilia reticulata is a popular aquarium species and is also commonly used in genetics research. In the past P. reticulata was widely introduced in hopes of gaining mosquito control, but there have been rare to non-existing measurable effects on mosquitoes populations (FishBase, 2006).

Materials and MethodThe Samples Gatul fish

(Poeciliareticulata) were taken from a small stream behind the O2 building in

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, State University of Malang on Friday, 31stOctober, 2014.Gatul fish that lives on the surface of the water is taken by large bucket, then take two samples of fish, a male gatul fish and a female gatul fish.

This research is a descriptive study of the morphological structure Gatulfish(Poeciliareticulata). Morphological aspects in this research included: the location ofthe body parts, body size, body color, types of scales, fin-type, the type of the tail and the fundamental difference between males and females.

Result and DiscussionFrom two gatul fish who studied,

there are two sexes i.e male and female. Female gatul fish and male gatul fish have different morphological structure. Morphological structure of the male gatul fish is has body length of 2.4 cm and width of his body is 0.5 cm. on the body of the male fish there are two pairs of round spots irregularly shaped black and silver color surrounded. The location of these spots is below the dorsal fin and the other is above the anal fin. This male fish has bright attractive colors. Its bright colors is intended to attract female fish. Gatul male fish has two pairs of fins, a pair of fins located on the bottom fin,while another pair of fins located on the right and left sides of the body at the back of the head,usually referred to the pectoral fins. The location of the eyes are in the head on right and left sides of the body.The shape of the tail is tapered, filamentous unidirectional and unite. This tail type called diphycercal. its skin covered by the fine scales shaped nets called placoid scales, the color of the skin of the head to the upper abdomen is black,while the color of the back of the body to the tail is transparent so that the internal organs of fish gatul visible from the outside. Fish gatul male move more active than female.

a

b c

d

e f g

Figure 1. The part of Gatul fish body. Male gatul fish (A), female gatul fish (C). Black spot on male gatul fish body (a), mouth (b), tail (c), bottom fins (d), left and right side fins (e), big white abdomen on female gatul fish (f), 3 bottom fins on female gatul fish (g).

Female gatul fish has different characteristics from the male. Female has a larger size than the male,with a body length of 3 cm and a width of 0.7 cm body.female fish have a big abdomen, distended and white. Female fish do not have black spots like the male. In female fish, the color of its lower abdomen is white,the color of the skin of the head to the upper abdomen is black, while the color of the back of the body to the tail is transparent so that the internal organs of gatul fish visible from the outside.The color of female fish is more unattractive than the male fish.Its body was covered with fine scales shaped like nets. Female fish has two pairs of fins,a pair of fins located on the bottom of the fin,while another pair of fins located on the right and left of the body behind the head, usually referred to the pectoral fins. Moreover female fish has an additional fin located behind the anus. The location of the eyes are in the head on right and left sides of the body. The shape of the tail is tapered, filamentous unidirectional and unite. This tail type called diphycercal.

ReferencesAnonim. 2008. Guppy. World Wide Web

electronic publication. Available at: http://a-z-animals.com/animals/guppy/(accessed on 9 November 2014)

FishBase. 2006. Poecilia reticulata. World Wide Web electronic publication. Available at: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Poecilia-reticulata.html (accesed on 11 November 2014)

Peter, W., 1859. Poecilia reticulata. World Wide Web electronic publication. Available at: http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/poecilia-reticulata/ (accesed on 11 November 2014)