Shahrzad Mohammadshahali - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University, Tehran-Iran
Majid Masoudifard - Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran-Iran
Alireza Vajhi - Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran-Iran
Mehdi Moghim - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University, Tehran-Iran
Omid Zehtabvar - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University, Tehran-Iran
Amin Mirhashemi Rostami - Inland Waters Aquatics Stocks Research Center, Gorgan-Iran

Determination of sex in fish without external sexual dimorphism is important. Sexdetermination of the striped mullet in aquaculture to exploit fish egg and artificialbreeding considered to be important. Currently, there are several methods to sexdetermine in fish, which are time consuming, expensive and sometimes dangerousfor brood stock. The purpose of this study was sex determination in Striped Mulletusing ultrasonography as a safe and accurate method. In this regard, 30 specimens ofStriped Mullet (4 years old) from a farm in The Gomishan (Golestan Province) wereexamined using a portable ultrasound with 6-12 MHz waterproof linear transducer.Scanning was performed on the ventral body surface in the sagittal and transverseplanes, between ventral and anal fins. Differences in shape, qualitative size,echogenicity and the wall layers of ovary and testis were evaluated for sexdetermination. Results of ultrasonography were confirmed immediately at necropsy.Ultrasonographic accuracy for sex determination was 100%. The speed of theprocedure was around 30 s per fish. Overall, sex determination of Striped Mulletusing ultrasonography was accurate and rapid, non-invasive and safe for fish andconsumers, and can be considered as a priority in sex determination in aquaculture.

Sex determination, The Striped mullet, Ultrasonography, Safe, High accuracy