Intravital Sex Identification of Adult Sterlets Acipenser ruthenus (Acipenseridae) Based on the Morphological Structure of Dorsal Scutes

Abstract

We studied the morphological structure of dorsal scutes in adult individuals of Acipenser ruthenus. We determined the morphometric indices of scutes, the values of which are different in males and females. We created a system for sex identification in sterlets based on indices and criteria indicative of the shape of the first five scutes. The results can be used for developing a method for intravital sex identification in sturgeons at earlier stages of development.