Number and Distribution of Superficial Neuromasts in Twelve Common European Cypriniform Fishes and Their Relationship to Habitat Occurrence

This paper gives the first detailed data on the number and body part related distribution of superficial neuromasts in twelve common European Cypriniform species and examines whether such anatomical variables can be related to rough scale habitat occurrence. The fishes (Barbatula barbatula, Barbus barbus, Chondrostoma nasus, Cobitis taenia, Leuciscus cephalus, Leuciscus leuciscus, Phoxinus phoxinus rutilus, Rhodeus sericeus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Tinea tinca, Vimba vimba) were classified in two generalized 'ecological guilds', 1) rheophilic and 2) limnophilic or indifferent, based on literature data. The total number of superficial neuromasts was consistent within each species, but differed considerably between species. Lowest numbers of superficial neuromasts were found in Barbatula barbatula (21 +/- 4.9 superficial neuromasts per cm body length) (mean +/- SD), highest numbers in Vimba vimba (233 +/- 36.1). Both species can be classified as rheophilic. Over all no relationship was found between the total number of superficial neuromasts and large scale habitat occurrence.