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Morphological Parameters of the Maghreb Bleak Tropidophoxinellus callensis (Leuciscidae) in an Algerian Mediterranean Stream

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Abstract

Mediterranean streams and their specialised ichthyofauna are amongst the most threatened ecosystems and biota worldwide. The Maghreb bleak, Tropidophoxinellus callensis (Guichenot, 1850), is endemic to the Maghreb region and currently listed as Data Deficient in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This study aims to provide the first detailed morphometry and growth parameters for this species. Our results reveal that there no significant (p > 0.05) difference between morphometric characters of male and female individuals. The linear regression analysisand the correlation coefficients suggested a significant relation (p < 0.01) between the length−length and length−weight relationship of the fish. This study provides novel and important data for fisheries and resource managers, and should be considered in terms of the species’ sustainability.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to thank Dr. Khalid Amarouch from the National Higher School of Marine Sciences, Algeria (ENSSMAL) and Mr. Mohamed Chetioui from the University of Skikda, Algeria for their contribution to the work.

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Correspondence to F. Mimeche.

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Conflict of interest. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Statement of the welfare of animals. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Morsi, A., Nouidjem, Y. & Mimeche, F. Morphological Parameters of the Maghreb Bleak Tropidophoxinellus callensis (Leuciscidae) in an Algerian Mediterranean Stream. J. Ichthyol. 61, 818–824 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0032945222010076

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