335 Asian Fisheries Science 15(2002): 335-346 Asian Fisheries Society, Manila, Philippines 335 Analysis of Growth Pattern and Variation in Some Morphometric Characters of Sympatric Hill Stream Teleosts Barilius bendelisis and Barilius vagra R.S. NEGI 1 and P. NAUTIYAL 2 1 National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources Canal Ring Road, Dilkusha Lucknow, 226002 India 2 Department of Zoology University of Allahabad Allahabad 211002 India Abstract In male and female Barilius bendelisis and Barilius vagra parameters showing most significant linear regression in relation to total length were snout length and least depth of caudal peduncle. The body parameters standard length and predorsal length were observed to be the least significant in both male and female B. bendelisis and B. vagra. In male and female B. bendelisis and B. vagra parameters showing most significant linear regression in relation to head length were length of rostral barbel and length of maxillary barbel while head depth and postorbital distance were observed to show least significant linear regres- sion. These also grow in linear fashion but rate is relatively lower. Certain body propor- tions of the males and females of B. bendelisis and B. vagra differed but not significantly. On the basis of morphometric analysis, B. bendelisis with 54.5% of genetically controlled characters in males and 50% in females shows relatively wider distribution and greater ten- dency of subspeciation than B. vagra with 63.9% genetically controlled characters in males and 59.1% in females. Introduction Two closely related species may have overlapping ranges. Where two mor- phologically similar species occur together in an area of overlap, the popula- tions are more divergent and easily distinguished, i.e. they “displace” one an- other in one or more characters. The characters involved can be morphological, ecological, behavioral, or physiological; they are assumed to be genetically based (Brown and Wilson 1956). The cause of variation in the morphometric and meristic characters may range from genetic variability to the influence of en- vironmental parameters (Hubbs 1921, Vladykov 1934, McHugh 1954). This