Meristic variations in the populations of southern Iranian toothcarp, Aphanius dispar dispar (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae)

The southern Iranian toothcarp، Aphanius dispar dispar، is a subspecies of cyprinodontids which is widely distributed in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman river basins. About 20 male and 20 female specimens of each 16 populations (610 specimens in total) were sampled. The samples were fixed in 10% formalin and gradually transferred to and preserved in 70% ethanol. Eleven meristic characters including dorsal، anal، pectoral، pelvic، caudal fin rays، gill rakers، lateral line scales and scales above and below the lateral line، circumpeduncle scales، and predorsal scales were counted on the specimens. Although significant differences (P<0. 05) exist amongst 10 out of 11 characters (all but the scales above the lateral line)، their wide overlaps preload them from differentiating the populations. Principal component analysis (PCA) could not differentiate the populations. It seems that these populations have not genetically enough isolated.