Morphometric and Physiological Characteristics of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) from the Ponor River

Abstract

This paper presents the data related to morphometric and physiological (hematological) characteristics of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from the Ponor River. This river rises near the village Podrašnica (municipality of Mrkonjić Grad), sinks above the ground and after a while, near the settlement of Krupa na Vrbasu, appears as a source of the Krupa River (tributary of the Vrbas River). Fish sampling was performed during the summer of 2015 and during this period 22 Salmo trutta units were caught (11 females and 11 males). On that occasion, several morphometric (total and standard body length) and hematological traits (Hct-hematocrit, Hb-hemoglobin and MCHC - mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), body mass and Fulton’s condition factor were analyzed. The average value for total body length was 18.85 cm and for standard body length it was 16.85 cm; the mean value for body mass was 80.38 g, and for Fulton’s condition factor 1.41. In case of hematological parameters, the average value for Hct was 0.39 l/l, Hb 70.62 g/l and MCHC 180.64 g/l erythrocytes. The estimated parameters can serve as indicators for the condition of these aquatic organisms, and indirectly, the state of their environment.