The reproductive biology of Carasobarbus luteus and Capoeta trutta in the Tigris River, Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the reproductive characteristics of two species of Cyprinidae, Longspine scraper, Capoeta trutta (Heckel, 1843) and Mesopotamian himri, Carasobarbus luteus (Heckel, 1843) in the Tigris River of Turkish part. A total of 307 C. luteus (138 females and 169 males) and 394 C. trutta (269 females and 125 males) specimens were analyzed. The sex ratio for C. luteus and C. trutta was 1:1.22 females (44.95%) to males (55.05%) and 1:0.47 females (68.27%) to males (31.73%), respectively. The reproduction period was between May and July for both species. The water temperature at this period was between 21.4 degrees C and 31 degrees C. Results indicated that the age at first maturity in C. luteus was three years for both males and females, and in C. trutta, three years for females and two years for males. The mean estimated fecundity was 5843 +/- 3554 for C. luteus and 5285 +/- 3105 for C. trutta. Maximal egg diameter for C. luteus and C. trutta were 1.61 +/- 0.45 mm and 0.91 +/- 0.41 mm, respectively.