SUMMARY

A morphometrical study on the vertebral axis of Rastrelliger kanagurta al-lows dividing its vertebral column into four morphologically distinct regions. This regionalization is more complex than the classical division in truncal and caudal parts only. The biometrical study of the length, height and width of the successive vertebrae allows characteristic-looking vertebral profiles to be drawn. The regionalization in the vertebral column of the species in question could be developed through the difference in length of vertebrae in different regions of the vertebral column. These morphological descriptive parameters express a morphotype that may be linked with the carangiform mode of swimming of the Indian mackerel