SVNOPSIS. Recent contributions to the theory of biogeography suggest that biogeographical hypotheses can potentially be derived from intraspecific patterns of morphological variation among populations. Morphological differentiation is demonstrated for meristic (serially repeated) and morphometric characters among populations of the euryhaline fish, Menidia beryllina, from the Mississippi Valley...

The landmark-based morphometric and meristic analysis of the kelp grouper (Epinephelus bruneus), red spotted grouper (E. akaara) and seven-banded grouper (E. septemfasciatus) were performed to compare the differentiation of overall body shape and structure. The measurements of the morphometric dimensions were observed in 25 parts (truss dimension: 16 parts; head part dimension: 9 parts) of 38 m...

We have investigated the morphological effects of a genetic locus, Pgm1-t, that affects the expression of a phosphoglucomutase locus (Pgm1) in liver of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). We have previously shown that embryos with liver Pgm1 expression hatch earlier than those without liver Pgm1 expression. We predicted that this difference in developmental rate should cause a reduction in meristi...

Seventeen morphometric and seven meristic body characteristics were examined in 406 specimens of damselfish (234 females and 172 males) caught in the middle Adriatic (near the Korčula and Kopište Islands). The differences between the mean values of the measured morphometric characteristics in the males and females were not statistically significant. Modes were identical in males and females for...

The Liolaemus elongatus group currently includes eight species (including the species described herein) of mid-sized, long-tailed, primarily saxicolous lizards. Members of this lineage are distributed in northwestern Argentina along the Andean Cordillera south to the Patagonian Steppe (27–448 S) and over a wide range of elevations (350–3900 m). Here we describe two new species belonging to the ...

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), defined as random deviations from ideal, perfect symmetry, has been hypothesized to be negatively associated with fitness and positively associated with stress. Fish otoliths deserve special attention in regard to this topic because their FA is relatively easy to measure, unlike the fitness of wild fish themselves. In addition, otoliths are convenient for estimating ...

This study evaluated potential differences in morphology of unextruded larvae from Sebastes mentella and Sebastes norvegicus in Icelandic waters. Fifty-four larvae of each species were measured, and 18 measurements were recorded for each specimen (morphometric, meristic and pigmentation patterns). Pre-extrusion larvae of S. norvegicus were longer than those of S. mentella. Additionally, there w...

This study addresses the quantitative genetic basis of phenotypic variation and covariation for a series of meristic traits in the garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi (six head scale counts: loreals, supraand infralabials, preand postoculars, temporals; three body scale counts: ventrals, subcaudals, dorsal scale rows at midbody; two derived traits: umbilical scar size and position). Each tr...