The use of first vertebrae in separating, and estimating the size of, trout ( Salmo trutta) and salmon ( Salmo salar) in bone remains

• Published in: Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Feltham, M. J., Marquiss, M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1989
• Subjects: Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1989.tb02570.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.1989.tb02570.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1989.tb02570.x; https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1989.tb02570.x

A method is described in which a single bone, the first vertebra, is used to distinguish bone remains of juvenile salmon ( Salmo salar ) and trout ( Salmo trutta ) with 90% certainty. A single regression of salmon and trout first vertebra‐width versus fish‐length of fish predicted the latter with an accuracy of ±<10 mm (95% confidence limits) for salmonids of 45–150 mm fish‐length. First vertebrae were assigned to salmon or trout based on three visual characters with 89%,–90% certainty. Salmon are more variable than trout for the three characters. Of first vertebrae, 6.5% were not readily identifiable as either salmon or trout, and a further 3.0%) were misclassified using our criteria.