| For those who do not subscribe to K-B [shame on you!], check the Gin Rin Ochiba on page 93 of Sept/Oct 2004 KoiUSA, the Kujaku on page 95 of July/August 2004 KoiUSA, or the 4 Ochiba Shigure on pages 32-33 of March 2005 Nichirin [English]. And for those who collect old Rinko, compare the jumbo Kawari on page 38 of the Nov. 1993 issue with the cover koi on K-B issue #7 (eerily alike, except the darker tones of the cover koi, and the gaps in the dorsal scales of the jumbo from a dozen years ago).
There is little rhyme or reason that I can discern between those koi with even lines of scales on the dorsal ridge and those without, except I seem to see an absence of the dorsal row altogether most frequently on Hikari. I think this is a result of selection for high shine favoring those without scales along the dorsal ridge. The "hint of doitsu" gives them more reflective surface.
The dorsal scalation non-uniformity is most noticeable on metallics, Chagoi/Ochiba/Soragoi, Asagi, Shusui, Aigoromo and other varieties in which scalation is a major attribute. It is not as noticeable in the gosanke and utsuri, but the variation is present. I believe it is the depth of pigment that causes the variation to be less noticeable on gosanke and utsuri. However, among the gosanke there are those individuals with pronounced, raised dorsal ridges. On those individuals it appears to me it is typical that there is no central row of scales. The thick color pleases the eye, so the absent scales do not cause a bad impression. See the Kohaku on page 44 of K-B issue #7 in bottom right of the page. The protuberant dorsal ridge shows well in the photo.
Examining my own koi, I've found that some have missing or undersized scales along the dorsal ridge, and others do not. Age and size do not seem determinative, although young small fish may be somewhat more likely to have undersized scales along the ridge, I do not have experience to say whether these will catch up in size as the fish matures or remain undersized compared to other body scales.
Another work interruption. I'll be back. |