Biometry of the fishes &lt;i&gt;Barbus plebejus&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Barbus capito&lt;/i&gt; from Coruh Basin, Turkey

Kemal Solak,Muhittin Yılmaz,Ali Alas,Ahmet Öktener

doi:10.15517/rbt.v57i1-2.11308

Biometry of the fishes <i>Barbus plebejus</i> and <i>Barbus capito</i> from Coruh Basin, Turkey

Kemal Solak, Muhittin Yılmaz + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v57i1-2.11308

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Abstract

Metric and meristic characters are important to identify fish species and their habitat peculiarities. There are many species that belong to the fish genus Barbus, which is found in tropical and extratropical regions, but there are few studies covering the Coruh basin. Two subspecies of Barbus were found in the Coruh River system of Eastern Anatolia, Turkey: Barbus plebejus escherichi and Barbus capito capito. We collected specimens in seven localities for measurement. The number of vertebra were determined radiographically. Some specimens of B. capito capito have a sharper snout in the segments of Coruh where the water flows faster, suggesting a modification related to current. The biometric measurements vary geographically and could be related to abiotic and biotic factors in the habitat.

Highlights

Metric and meristic characters are important to identify fish species and their habitat peculiarities as well as ecological criteria in any stream, lake or sea (Karaman 1971, Geldiay and Balık 1998, Karatas 2005)
The purpose of the present study is to contribute to the knowledge of the biometric measurements and their relationships to Barbus plebejus escherichi and Barbus capito capito inhabiting Coruh Basin from Turkey
Metric characters of fishes were measured by using compass and ruler, and meristic characters were determined under binocular microscope and magnifier

Summary

Introduction

Metric and meristic characters are important to identify fish species and their habitat peculiarities as well as ecological criteria in any stream, lake or sea (Karaman 1971, Geldiay and Balık 1998, Karatas 2005). It is more common to use morphometric measurements (i.e., body length, body depth, head length, eye diameter, jaw length) and meristics (i.e., fin ray, scale, teeth, gill raker, and lateral line pore counts). There are limited studies concerning this topic in Coruh basins (Karaman 1971, Kuru 1975). The purpose of the present study is to contribute to the knowledge of the biometric measurements and their relationships to Barbus plebejus escherichi and Barbus capito capito inhabiting Coruh Basin from Turkey.

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Conclusion