The use of first vertebrae in separating, and estimating the size of, trout (<i>Salmo trutta</i>) and salmon (<i>Salmo salar</i>) in bone remains

Abstract

A method is described in which a single bone, the first vertebra, is used to distinguish bone remains of juvenile salmon ( Salmo salar ) and trout ( Salmo trutta ) with 90% certainty. A single regression of salmon and trout first vertebra‐width versus fish‐length of fish predicted the latter with an accuracy of ±&lt;10 mm (95% confidence limits) for salmonids of 45–150 mm fish‐length. First vertebrae were assigned to salmon or trout based on three visual characters with 89%,–90% certainty. Salmon are more variable than trout for the three characters. Of first vertebrae, 6.5% were not readily identifiable as either salmon or trout, and a further 3.0%) were misclassified using our criteria.