A study on morphometric characteristics of common sawbelly (Hemiculter leucisculus) in five aquatic basin of Golestn province

Thirty seven morphometric and 7 meristic characteristics of five populations ofHemiculter leucisculus from the Golestan Province including Golestan dam, Alakolidike, Digje and Qoch-Morad zone dikes were investigated. For this purpose, a totalnumber of 184 fish were sampled during spring 2013 using a beach net. Then, theobtained morphometric and meristic data of studied populations were analyzed usingCVA. The results revealed no significant difference between studied populations interms of meristic features. But the results also showed a significant difference ofmorphometric characters between populations (Wilks lamda=0.03, P<0.001). Twofirst CV’s were comprised 87.9% of total variance. The main separator characters offirst axis with 75.8% was eye diameter changes, postorbita distance, interorbitaldistance, distance between anus and base of anal fin and the second axis with 12.1%was head width, snout length, pelvic fin base length.

Keywords:

Morphetrics , Meristic , Hemiculter leucisculus , Golsetan Province