Secondary sexual dimorphism in some Chinese cobitid fishes

The sexual dimorphism of Chinese cobitids consists of peculiar structures of the pectoral fins and of variations in the lengths of these as well as of the ventral fins. In all groups the paired fins are, as a rule, longer in the male sex, and the female has no lamina circularis, enlargement of pectoral rays or dilation of lateral muscles. In males of Cobitis and Misgurnus, the second rays of the pectorals are enlarged and possess at their base a bony plate (lamina circularis). In other Chinese genera the lamina circularis is absent. Males of the Misgurnus group are easily recognized by the dilation of the lateral muscles in the region of the dorsal fin. Males of Barbatula have several enlarged inner rays in the pectoral fin and numerous nuptial tubercles on the head, arranged in prepercular and preorbital groups. In the European, B. barbatula, however, tubercles on the head are wanting. In males of the Leptobotia and probably Botia groups, the first pectoral ray is enlarged, and the membrane between several of the inner rays is covered with nuptial tubercles. In general, in the Chinese cobitids the differences in sexual dimorphism are correlated with the differences between genera, i.e., each genus possesses a quite different sexual dimorphism; thus the secondary sexual characters can be used for taxonomic purposes.