Figure 3. A : PCAs of sympatric pairs of generalized vs. thick-lipped ecomorphs of Labeobarbus spp. that live sympatrically in each of six rivers: Birbir, Blue Nile, Didessa, Genale, Gojeb, and Sore. B : Food spectra (IR: the index of relative importance) of the sympatric ecomorphs (G – generalized, L – thick-lipped) of the Labeobarbus spp. from the Blue Nile, Didessa, Genale, and Gojeb.
The thick-lipped ecomorph was characterized by greatly developed middle lobes on the lower lip (MLL) that was significantly longer compared to the generalized ecomorph in all studied rivers (Supplementary Figure S3). Individual MLL values varied from 10 to 33% in the thick-lipped ecomorph (averaging – 21%) while in the generalized ecomorph they were much lower – from 4 to 16% (averaging – 9%). Largest MLL values within thick-lipped ecomorph were detected in the Birbir River (27%) while the smallest one – in the Sore River (16%) and Blue Nile River (16%).
Gut Length. The guts of thick-lipped ecomorph were shorter than in generalized ecomorph from all studied rivers, sometimes significantly (Supplementary Figure S3). The gut length of thick-lipped ecomorph varied from 140.0 to 507.8% SL, averaging – 305.1%. The gut length of generalized ecomorph varied from 157.2 to 646.1%, averaging – 332.9%. Significant differences between sympatric thick-lipped and generalized ecomorphs were detected in the Blue Nile (p<0.01), Genale (p<0.05) and Gojeb (p<0.01) (Wilcoxon test).