THE DISCRIMINANT AND CLUSTER ANALYSES OF THE WILD CRUCIAN CARP (CARASSIUS AURATUS)AND FIVE REPRESENTATIVE VARIETIES OF GOLDFISHES(C.AURATUS VAR.)

The two-group discriminant-function analysis, stepwise discriminant analysis and numerical taxonomy were used for the comparative study or the intraspecific evolutionary relationship among the wild crucian carp (Carassius auratus) and five varieties of goldfish (C.auratus var.).Seventeen mophorlogical characters were analysed,and the divergences among the wild crucian carp and the varieties of goldfish are extremely significant indicating the presence of intraspecific differentiation.The cluster analysis revealed, with the most important characters selected by the stepwise discriminant analysis, that the wild crucian carp and the goldfish are phyletically corre lated.The variance analyses proved that the characters used for cluster analysis are reasonable.