Ichtyological study of Caspian Vimba (Vimba vimba persa pallas, 1811) in Anzali lagoon

Results show that this species (122 specimens) has the average total length of 171.2 ±31.6 mm, average total weight of 62.9±19.7 g, and average age of 3.49±0.9 year. Average number of scales on the lateral line is 50.83±1.8, soft rays of dorsal fin were 7.96±0.2, and anal fin rays were 17.58±1.0.The average head length was 24.47±1.9%, eye diameter was 6.1±0.4%, the maximum body height was 26.17±1.4%, height and length of dorsal fin were 20.22±1.5 and 10.96±0.8% respectively, height and length of anal fin were 12.66±0.8% and 18.17±1.5% respectively. The distance between the pectoral and ventral fins was 24.18±1.7% and the distance between the ventral and anal fins was 20±1.5%. The pre-dorsal length was 52.21±1.7% of the standard length.The brood stocks and fingerlings were different in one meristic characteristic and 9 morphometric parameters. Female and male Brood stocks were different in 12 morphometric characteristics, especially in body height, dorsal and anal fin lengths. Also from the appearance of fish point of view the matured males had epithelial turbecles on the head and body, the body color is relatively darker than females. Also the color of ventral and anal fins was more light-red than females.