Sexual dimorphism in the head, mouth, and body morphology of the smallspotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758) (Chondrichthyes: Scyliorhinidae) from Turkey

Males of the smallspotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula, have a longer and narrower mouth than females, resulting in pronounced sexual dimorphism. The length/width ratio of the mouth is 0.55 in males and 0.50 in females. Other head measurements also significantly differ between the sexes, i.e., the snout-spiracle and snout-pectoral distances. Body measurements that differ between the sexes include pelvic to anal, pectoral inner edge, pelvic to median tip, upper caudal, and total body lengths. Reasons for these differences are discussed

An investigation of growth parameters and otolith-total length relationship of Solea solea (L., 1758) Pisces: Soleidae) in Ismir Bay

The relationships of length-weight and age, and otolith length-total length in Solea solea were examined. The length and age of wild-caught specimens were compared with the length and age calculated theoretically, together with the results from the back-calculated lengths-at-age. Five different groups of total length were designated, and otolith lengths were compared with each of them. Similarly, the same parameters were utilized to determine sexual differences. As a result, it was observed that age and length groups of wild-caught specimens agree with the age and length groups calculated theoretically. Each otolith length group conforming to total length groups was distributed homogeneously, whereas the differences between them were statistically significant

A quantitative reassessment of morphology-based taxonomic schemes for Turkish tortoises (Testudo graeca)

In the last decade, Asian populations of Testudo graeca were split into as many as 10 species based on morphology and morphometry and then subsequently synonymized based on genetic evidence. We generate new morphometric data for six of these disputed species from Turkey, a major center of morphological and genetic diversity for Asian T. graeca. We test the concordance of our data with previous morphological assignments. Our morphometric data and analyses do not support all of the results of previous morphometric studies. Instead we find that putatively named taxa from the Mediterranean coast ("antakyensis" , "anamurensis", and "terrestris") are not morphometrically distinct. On the other hand, some inland populations from eastern Turkey ("armeniaca" and "perses") are morphometrically distinct as previously claimed. Tortoise populations from northern and southern Turkey, which may correspond to the ibera and terrestris mt clades, also appear to be morphometrically distinct. In this respect, the morphometric data reflects the emerging genetic pattern, although the picture is complicated by a lack of genetic sampling within Turkey and morphometric studies outside of Turkey. © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010.Alfred P. Sloan Foundation 102T104, TBAG-2206 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur FoundationAcknowledgements. This study is financially supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) with a project number TBAG-2206 (102T104). The authors would like to thank Jim Buskirk (Oakland, USA) for their help during some of the fieldwork. JFP is supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and would like to thank Sarah Rieboldt (U.C. Berkeley) for her support. This is UCMP contribution #1978. -