Age determination by sclerite numbers, and scale variations in six fish species from the Central Amazon (Osteichthyes, Characoidei)

Abstract

The scales of 6 different species of three families (Brycon cf. melanopterus (Characidae), Semaprochilodus theraponura (Curimatidae), Semaprochilodus taeniulus (Curimatidae), Prochilodus nigricans (Curimatidae), Curimata cf . rutiloides (Curimatidae), Colossoma macropomum (Serrasalmidae)) from the Central Amazon are described with regard to their size, shape, and number of sclerites originated from different parts of the body. For each species the body area is defined from which standard scales should be taken, and age determination is conducted by the sclerite method after WERDER (1983)