Do small fish mean no voucher? Using a flatbed desktop scanner to document larval and small specimens before destructive analyses

• Published in: Journal of applied ichthyology Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 614 - 617
• Main Authors: Kalous, L, Šlechtová, V, Petrtýl, M, Kohout, J, Čech, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2010; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Freshwater
• ISSN: 0175-8659; 1439-0426
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2010.01471.x

The objective of this study was to develop a fast, reliable and cost effective photographic documentation tool to complement identification methods on preserved material. We tested the applicability of a flatbed desktop scanner as an easy means to provide a voucher in form of a whole body image for further morphological analysis. Similar species of European perch and zander were included in the test trial, accompanied by molecular genetic analysis as reference identification. The outcome of the study reveals the general utility of the method.