Abstract

Populations of Astacus astacus L., A. leptodactylus Esch. and Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana) were studied with regard to inter- and intraspecific morpho­logical differences. Seven different morphological characters were screened and examined with multivariate analysis. There was a morphologic separation between species in all characters. Within species comparisons revealed great phenotypic overlap between all populations of A. astacus. One population of P. leniusculus showed a phenotypic separation from two other populations.It is suggested that a mixing of subspecies within the species P. leniusculus may have occurred. That could explain the morpho logical and genetical variation present i P. leniusculus but absent in A. Astacus. The effect of allometric growth of-chelipeds is discussed and found to be a less possible explanation of the morphological difference between populations of P. leniusculus.

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