Suitability of pharyngeal bone measures commonly used for reconstruction of prey fish length

Three measures (gape, tip and tooth row) of pharyngeal bones from 13 Eurasi an cyprinid fish species caught in north-eastern Germany were used to estab lish species specific bone measure-length relationships for reconstruction of prey fish length. Left and right bones were symmetrical in the case of g ape, tip and length of tooth row in 69, 46 and 8%, respectively. Gape and t ip showed significantly lower maximum values of relative error than the too th row measure. A comparison of bone measures established for roach Rutilus rutilus (L.) and bream Abramis brama (L.) from north-eastern and from sout hern Germany showed significant differences. Left and right bone measure-le ngth relationships are not generally identical. Gape and tip measures allow more accurate back-calculation of length than tooth row measures and local ity specific relationships should be established. (C) 2000 The Fisheries So ciety of the British Isles.