In each of Assiut and Aswan samples of Alestes nurse, counts of the total gill rakers on the first right side gill arch, lateral line scales and fin rays of dorsal, pectoral pelvic and anal fins were not associated with sex. The results of meristic counts, except those of pelvic fin rays, revealed that Assiut and Aswan combined sex samples of A.nurse represented geographical races and not a subspecific status. Except for the dorsal fin ray count, the meristic counts considered were found to be helpful for the differentiation between A.nurse and A.baremose.