Ultrastructure of the Focus Region of the Regenerated Cycloid Scale of an Exotic Fish, Cyprinus carpio Communis L. as a Possible Key to Comprehensive Understanding of Populations

Fish scales (except placoid) have been employed for age determination, growth studies and various growth parameters, which are useful in the formulation of various fishery management practices and the optimum exploitation of fishery stocks of commercial fish species. Fish-scale morphology and its morphometrics can be employed for taxonomic purposes and for phylogenetic relationships. The evaluation of populations/ stocks of the fish species having wide zoogeographical distribution and inhibiting distinctly different ecological conditions has been done with the help of molecular markers. An alte rnate technique, i.e. to study the ultrastructural details of the focus region of the regenerated scale has been found to be more reliable and economical. This technique has been tested positively on the regenerated cycloid scale of an exotic fish, Cyprinus carpio communis L. inhabiting five distinctly ecologically different water bodies of northern India.