---

. In this study, morphological variation of three species of Squalius in Iranian basins was studied. For this purpose, 709 specimens were captured from the Caspian Sea, the Urmia Lake, the Namak Lake and the Tigris basin. After anesthetizing in clove oil solution and fixing in 10% neutralized formalin, specimens were transferred to the Isfahan University of Technology Ichthyology Museum (IUT-IM) for further studies. In the laboratory, some 14 meristic characters were counted under a streomicroscope. Also, images were analyzed with ImageJ software and 19 morphometric characteristics were measured. In addition, 13 landmarks were defined and digitized on images taken in tpsDig2 software in order to extract geometric morphometric data. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA, Duncan test, PCA, CVA and cluster analysis methods were used to analyze the differences among the populations. The results of PCA and CVA meristic and morphometric analyses showed no significant differences among the studied populations. The populations of the species studied were significantly different in 11 meristic and 15 morphometric characteristics. Also, the major differences observed in the results of geometric morphometric analysis were related to the position of the pectoral fin, body and head depth. In general, the studied populations highly overlapped, and we suggest that the populations of genus Squalius should be further studied by molecular methods.
 

---

 
Atta Mouludi-Saleh¹, Soheil Eagderi¹, Keyvan Abbasi² & Manoochehr Nasri^3
1Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran; ²Inland Waters Aquaculture Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Bandar Anzali, Iran; ³Department of Fisheries Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
Correspondent author: Soheil Eagderi, soheil.eagderi@ut.ac.ir
 
Abstract: Due to the presence of taxonomic ambiguity regarding Petroleuciscus ulanus and Alburnus atropatenae and the tendency to treat them as synonyms of each other, this study was conducted to validate these two species by comparing their morphometric and meristic characters in the Mahabad-Chai River, Urmia Lake basin. A total of 64 specimens of P. ulanus and 68 specimens of A. atropatenae were sampled and were then investigated for 17 morphometric and 7 meristic characters. Measurements were standardized to eliminate the effects of size due to allometric growth pattern, then their normality and abnormality were examined. Standardized data were analyzed using t-test, Mann-Whitney, principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminative function analysis based on P-value of Hotelling's t-test (DFA/Hotelling's T-test) methods. The results showed that the two species were significantly different in 11 morphometric and 2 meristic traits (P<0.05). DFA analysis also showed significance differences between the two studied species. Our results refute the synonymy hypothesis of Petroleuciscus ulanus and Alburnus atropatenae on the basis of morphometric and meristic traits. Therefore, based on the results of this study, the taxonomic identities of these two species are valid.
 

 

---

Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 is considered as one of the non-native and invasive species in the inland waters of Iran. This species occurs in most inland basins and aquatic bodies of Iran and has even been found in brackish waters. Extensive adaptations of this species to its different habitats caused numerous changes in its biological characteristics and morphological traits. The present study was performed to investigate the sexual dimorphism of G. holbrooki in the Gamasiab River, Kermanshah Province, Iran. 59 fish specimens were collected from the river in September 2017. After taxonomic confirmation and sex determination, 29 morphological traits were measured in fish samples using a caliper and their meristic traits were recorded. In total, 37 characters (including 8 meristic traits and 29 morphometric traits) were examined. After obtaining morphological data, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) were utilized to compare morphological traits between male and female individuals. The results showed that the 59 specimens were comprised of 30 malea and 29 femalea. On the basis of the results, all morphological traits, except the caudal peduncle length, dorsal fin base length and a post-anal length, showed significant sexual dimorphism (p <0.05). The results of DFA and PCA analysis showed that males and females were completely different from each other in terms of morphometric traits. These findings indicate that there is a sexual dimorphism in G. holbrooki of the Gamasiab River. The sexual dimorphism observed in this fish species is due to the sexual selection and increase of reproductive success.