Early Development and Allometric Growth Patterns in Caspian Kutum (Rustilus frisii kutum (Kamenskii, 1901)

The early morphological development and allometric growth pattern of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) during early development (from 0-35 days post hatch=dph) was studied. Morphological data were obtained using ImageJ software from 2D pictures and allometric growth patterns were computed based on Log10 y = Log10 α βLog x function. Based on inflexion point of morphological traits and body shape changes, the early developmental of kutum were divided into Eleuthero-embryo, Propterygio-larval, Pterygio-larval” and younger juvenile phases, each of which included vital developmental events. Rapid and intense changes occurred during Eleuthero-embryo and Propterygio-larvae stages such as development of gills, depletion of yolk-sac and exogenous feeding, development of feeding apparatus, sense organs and organs related to swimming performance. The results also revealed that developmental changes occurred in agreement with the inflexion points of morphological characters and their developmental priority imply on functional importance of feeding, respiration and swimming related structures.