Phenetic relationships and multivariate ontogenic channels of ecological forms of Altai osman Oreoleuciscus potanini (Cyprinidae) in Lake Nogon (Great Lakes Hollow, Mongolia)

The variability of the osteological characters of the Potanin Altai osman Oreoleuciscus potanini in Lake Nogon (Great Lakes Hollow, Mongolia) has been studied. The use of an approach based on the construction of multivariate ontogenetic channels made it possible to reveal differences in the development algorithms of the acute-snouted, piscivorous, and herbivorous osman forms. According to the characteristics involved, the acute-snouted and herbivorous forms have been found to be more similar to one another than any of them is to the piscivorous form. The obtained data are in good agreement with the results of studies of genetic relationships between those three forms.