Age and growth of Barbus meridionalis (Cyprinidae) from two rivers in Slovenia

Abstract Little is known about age and growth of Barbus meridionalis in Europe and no published data are available for Slovenia. Age determination (scales) and growth studies were conducted on 561 specimens from the River Sora (west prealpine subregion) and 534 specimens from the River Gracnica (east prealpine subregion). The age structure of the species is similar in both rivers with fish from age group 0 (under yearling) to age group 6 (six years old). The number of the youngest caught specimens (0–1) was 183 from the Gracnica River and 404 from the Sora River, whereas the number of the oldest fish (5+‐6+) was 13 and 42, respectively. When compared to known age‐and‐growth data for other European populations of B. meridionalis, the population from the River Sora approaches the upper length limit, while the population from the River Gracnica is smaller.