Central Sclerit Forms of Baikal Omul Scale and its Intraspecies Variability

Abstract

We detected that fishes with elasmoid scale can organize subspecies forms of central scale sclerit. We taked Baikal omul as polymorphic object for study of character of differentiation from this parametr. We detected hexahedral, pentahedral, rectangle, rhomboid and double (two-embryonic) forms of the central sclerit. The percentage composition of types of central sclerit was studied in three major populations. Individuals with pentahedral form of central sclerit are predominate in major omul populations. Scale first year growth characteristics of individuals with different types of central sclerit was studied. We revealed that individuals differ from geometry of central sclerit and also from growth characteristics of first annual ring. However, scale growth of individuals with the same types of central sclerit is conserve in populations. The origin of geometry and nature of geometric forms of scale tissue is under discussion.

Keywords

• biomineral
• geometrical morphology
• elasmoid scale
• central sklerit