ALLOZYME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POPULATIONS OF CHUBBYHEAD BARB (BARBUS-ANOPLUS WEBER, 1897) AND MARICO BARB (BARBUS-MOTEBENSIS STEINDACHER, 1894)

Starch gel-electrophoresis was used to assess genetic differences betw een two morphologically similar barb species. Two population samples o f each species were analysed and polymorphism was detected, in one or both species, at 10 of the 30 protein coding loci examined. Relative m obility differences of alleles among the four populations were found a t 20 of these loci (56.7%). We conclude that the extent of generic dif ferences between the two species supports the present taxonomic status of these species, which were previously thought to be synonymous. The genetic differences between the species and populations are of conser vation importance and can be used to study possible migration routes a nd the evolution of the species.