Analysis of Growth Pattern and Variation in Some Morphometric Characters of Sympatric Hill Stream Teleosts Barilius bendelisis and Barilius vagra

Abstract

In male and female Barilius bendelisis and Barilius vagra parameters showing most significant linear regression in relation to total length were snout length and least depth of caudal peduncle. The body parameters standard length and predorsal length were observed to be the least significant in both male and female B. bendelisis and B. vagra. In male and female B. bendelisis and B. vagra parameters showing most significant linear regression in relation to head length were length of rostral barbel and length of maxillary barbel while head depth and postorbital distance were observed to show least significant linear regression. These also grow in linear fashion but rate is relatively lower. Certain body proportions of the males and females of B. bendelisis and B. vagra differed but not significantly. On the basis of morphometric analysis, B. bendelisis with 54.5% of genetically controlled characters in males and 50% in females shows relatively wider distribution and greater tendency of subspeciation than B. vagra with 63.9% genetically controlled characters in males and 59.1% in females.