Similarities among Eleven Species of Cyprinids (Teleostei) as Indicated by Their Counts of Gillrakers, Meristics and Morphometry

Abstract

The numbers of gill rakers, 12 meristic characters and 20 morphometric ratios were studied in 11 species of Sri Lankan cyprinids by using digested stained specimens and preserved specimens. The statistical analysis of characters show. d that the counts of gill rakers, vertebrae, lateral line scales, pectoral fin rays and most of the morphometric ratios made significant differences among the species studied. In the analysis of results of ANOV A tests using matrices showed that the 11 species of cyprinids fall in to 4 clusters : Danio malabaricus (Jerdon) and Chela laubuca (Hamilton - Buchanan) in cluster one, Rasbora vaterifloris (Deraniyagala) and Horadandiya athukorali (Deraniyagala) in cluster two, Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton-Buchanan), Amblypharyngodon melettinus (Valenciennes), Rasbora caveri (Hora), and Esomus danrica thermoicos (Valenciennes) in cluster three, <Tor khu dree longispinis (Gunther), Labeo dussu mieri (Valenciennes) and Garra ceylonensis (Bleeker) in cluster four. This separation indicate that, Dania malobaricus of the subfamily Rasborinae is more re'ated to Chela laubuca of Abraminae than to the other species of Rasborinae. The two smallest rasboranines, Rasbora vaterifloris and Horadandiya athu korali were 80% similar to each other and tend to separate from other species of Rasborinae.