Table 3. Important meristic counts of three specimens in each species.
Organism name (Species) | Replicates | Parameters | |||||
Gill rakers on first arch (upper arm+lower arm) | Scales on lateral line | Dorsal fin rays | Ventral fin rays | Pectoral fin rays | Anal fin rays | ||
Tor putitora | a | 2+14 | 25 | 9+ii | 8+i | 15+i | 6+i |
b | 2+14 | 25 | 9+ii | 8+i | 15+i | 6+i | |
c | 2+14 | 25 | 9+ii | 8+i | 15+i | 6+i | |
Tor progeneius | a | 2+14 | 26 | 9+ii | 8+i | 15+i | 6+i |
b | 2+13 | 26 | 9+ii | 8+i | 15+i | 6+ii | |
c | 2+14 | 26 | 9+ii | 8+i | 15+i | 6+i | |
Neolissochilus hexagonolepis | a | 2+8 | 27 | 9+ii | 8+i | 14+i | 6+i |
b | 2+8 | 27 | 9+ii | 8+i | 14+i | 6+i | |
c | 2+8 | 27 | 9+ii | 8+i | 14+i | 6+i | |
Neolissochilus hexastichus | a | 2+9 | 24 | 10+ii | 7+i | 14+i | 7+i |
b | 2+9 | 24 | 10+ii | 7+ii | 14+i | 7+i | |
c | 2+9 | 24 | 10+ii | 8+i | 14+i | 7+i |
The table shows that the number of gill rakers on the lower arm of first arch is a very important distinguishing character between the two genera. This character is very easily identifiable and based on this character the first hand classification of mahseer in to respective genera can be easily done.
• Lowercase roman numerals are used to denote the simple rays in fin ray count.