Abstract:

In this study, distribution, morphometric and meristic features of Spiny Eel, Mastacembelus mastacembelus (Bank&Solender, 1794) in Adýyaman district streams has been investigated. M. mastacembelus specimens have been caught from high vegetation aquatic plants habitats in Ziyaret stream, Kahta stream, Göksu stream, Sofraz stream, Çakal stream and Aksu stream. It has been detected variation a total length 12.06 to 60.18 cm and total weight 14.5-430 g of total 26 M. mastacembelus specimens determined from in study area. At the specimens detected in our study area, dorsal, anal and caudal fins were close but they were clearly separated from each other. However, any one specimen (398.8 g and 528.73 mm) caught in Ziyaret stream showed combined dorsal, anal and caudal fins are completely. Average spine numbers in between dorsal fin and head were 33 and anal spine numbers were average 3. Average, rostral length, head depth, body depth (from anal) and eye diameter were 8.38 mm, 23.11 mm, 27.21 mm, 3.26 mm respectively. Consequently, Mastacembelus sp. in Ziyaret Stream has different morphological characters than that of the other Mastacembelus populations reported in the previous studies however, the other Mastacembelus populations have similar morphological characteristics with the other populations in Turkey.

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