Abstract:
The Decapterus spp. is one of economically important fish species in Sri Lanka, there are three kind of Decapterus fish species in Sri Lankan sea water; namely Decapterus macarellus (Mackerel scad), Decapterus macrosoma (Longbodied scad) and Decapterus ruselli (Russel's mackerel scad) .
At present Sri Lanka fisheries sector have gained importance due to starting of cane fish industry. One of the Decapterus spp. are purchased by canning fish industry from local fisher men for canning purposes which are commonly known as "Linna".
In this study we reviewed the morphological identification of Decapterus spp. in Sri Lankan sea water and the morphological identification was confirmed by the way of molecular identification tool, mitochondrial cox 1 gene (approximately 655 bp). Only two kinds of Decapterus spp. were identified by the way of morphological and molecular identification tools in Sri Lankan sea water; namely Decapterus macarellus (Mackerel scad) and Decapterus ruselli (Russel's mackerel scad) during the study period, and any single specimen of Decapterus macrosoma did not identified by the way of molecular and morphometric identification tools.
Key words: Decapterus spp., molecular identification, morphological identification, mitochondrial cox 1 gene (approximately 655 bp).
