[Study of the variability of Leuciscus soufia, cyprinidae fish, by analysis of enzyme polymorphism and meristic characteres].

An analysis of 30 presumptive enzyme loci and 7 meristic characters has been used to study different populations of the cyprinid Leuciscus (Telestes) soufia. This fish is considered autochthonous in south-eastern France, with 3 described sub-species. The estimates of gene diversity were similar to results from studies on Cyprinidae from North America. The sample from the upper reaches of the river Durance showed higher levels of gene diversity; heterozygosity and percentage of polymorphic loci than all other samples. Furthermore, the samples from the Durance, as a whole, seem to embrace a population with little or no subdivision. Six of the 7 measured meristic characters yielded no significant differences between samples. The population sample of the sub-species soufia from the river Var differs from the other samples only by allele frequencies, low level of heterozygosity and the number of gill rakers. It is argued that these characters are quite insufficient and may cast doubt as to the validity of the subspecies rank of this population.