Age Structure and Growth Characteristics of the Endemic Fish Oxynoemacheilus anatolicus (Nemacheilidae) in Düğer Creek, Mediterranean region of Turkey

Abstract

The present study reports the age and growth properties of Burdur Loach, Oxynoemacheilusanatolicus Erk'akan, Özeren & Nalbant, 2008 caught from the Düger Spring Creek (Burdur-Turkey)and is currently listed as an endangered species. 100 specimens of O. anatolicus, which ranged insize between 2.5 and 8.6 cm in total length, 0.14 and 5.90 g in total weight, were collected duringthe study period. Of all the O. anatolicus examined, 5 were immature, 50 were female, and 45were male. The overall sex ratio in the populations matches the expected value of 1:1 in a normalpopulation. The otolith readings indicated the presence of five age classes (I-V). Length–weightrelationships were fitted by the equation W= 0.0082L3.0402 (p