Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences ___________________________ISSN 2320 – 6535 Vol. 3(5), 1-4, May (2015) Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci. International Science Congress Association 1 Length-Weight Relationship of Pugnose Pony Fish Secutor insidiator (Bloch, 1787) (Family: Leiognathidae) from the Visakhapatnam Coastal Waters, North East Coast of IndiaMuddula Krishna N., Govinda Rao V., Joseph Uday, Ranjan T., Siva Reddy K.V. and Ramesh Babu K Department of Marine Living Resources, College of Science and Technology Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, 530003, INDIA Available online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 13th February 2015, revised 15th April 2015, accepted 23rd April 2015 AbstractThe length-weight relationship (LWR) was estimated using the exponential equation W= aL for one species of ponyfish belonging to family Leiognathidae, species Secutor insidiator in the catches of Visakhapatnam landing centre. The LWR was worked out as in pooled samples W = 0.0000170 L 2.9143, in females W = 0.00000369L2.7976, in males W = 0.00000352 L 2.8920. Keywords: Length-weight relationship, pugnose ponyfish Secutor insidiator (Bloch, 1787), Visakhapatnam coastal waters, north east coast of India. Introduction Silverbellies (Family: Leiognathidae, Order: Perciformes) commonly known as slipmouths or ponyfishes . It’s constitute important component of the marine fisheries exploiting the coastal fishing grounds in the Indo-Pacific and Western Central Atlantic Oceans and widely distributed inhabiting sandy, muddy and estuarine environments in the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean. This silverbellis species is commonly familiar by its downward protractible mouth and is commonly available in shallow coastal waters, estuaries and mangrove areas. It is one of the majority’s commercially important “by-catch” fish species due to high quantity of bone and fat less flesh that provide plenty of calcium and protein sources. Fisheries information is scarce for the species represented in different regions. The length-weight relationship studies (LWR) is an important tool in fish biology, physiology, ecology and fisheries assessment [6]. It can be used for converting lengths into biomass, determining fish condition, comparing fish growth among areas, and as a complement to species specific reproduction and feeding studies7-10. Thus, if it is properly calculated, it can be very useful to fisheries management. Length weight relationship studies useful references for coastal water management and particularly marine fisheries11. Material and Methods Samples of pony fish species were collected from the commercial trawlers operating in the catches off Visakhapatnam fish landing centre, North Andhra Pradesh, East coast of India during the study period September 2012 to August 2013. Total length in mm and weight in grams (from tip of snout to the tip of longest ray in the caudal fin) and weight (nearest to 0.1g) were recorded. The length–weight relationship was calculated by the method of least square adopting the equation of [12]. W = a Lb Where: W= Body weight (g), L= Total length (mm); ‘a’ is a coefficient related to body and ‘b’ is an exponent indicating isometric growth when equal to 313-15. The same in the logarithmic from can be written as: Log W= log + log L. In the present study samples used for LWR includes sexes were considered separately represented in the catches. Results and Discussion The LWR was worked out as in pooled samples W=0.0000170 L 2.9143, in females W = 0.00000369L2.7976, in males W = 0.00000352 L2.8920 Total 3647 specimens of the length ranged from 80-115mm in males, 66-114mm in females and 27-115mm in pooled. The weight range in males is 8-20gm, in females 4.5-21.5gm and in pooled 0.2-21.5gm respectively. The regression coefficient (b) for S. insidator was found as 2.9143 which differs significantly from hypothetical value (3), indicating negative allometric growth. Generally , the condition of isometric growth, the weight of the fish is considered as an exponential function to length and their relationship could be expressed by the cube- law, i.e., weight = a x length. The results indicated that L. jonesi and L. decorus displayed similar rate of changes in length and weight with allometrically positive population growth Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences Vol. 3(5), 1-4, May (2015) International Science Congress Association pattern (b�3.0), Whereas the ot her two smaller species oblongus and S. insidiator displayed a relatively difference rate of changes in length and weight with allometrically negative population showing growth pattern b3.0). The “b” values also changes due to changes in physiological growth condition such as development of gonads or food availability for the respective population112,16 . In view of the importance of length relationships in understanding growth and stock dynamics of fish populations, it has been extensively studi species of fishes distributed in different parts of the world. Length- weight relationships in silverbellies have been derived from the Indo- Pacific regions, and the Indian sub been a major site for study of these fishes statistics of the length-weight relationship in L. dussumieri the Gulf of Mannar, reporting ‘b’ values of 2.9591, 3.1732 and 3.3976 for males, immature females and mature females, respectively18 . Batcha and Badrudeen have been reported that the value of ‘b’ is to be 3.004 for L. brevirostris Bay19 described the relation between length and weight in jonesi from Palk Bay reported value of ‘b’ is to be 2.87. According to the studies of Balan20 the reported ‘b’ value is to be 2.864 for L. bindus from Calicut coast of Kerala Length weight relationship pooled samples of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences _____ _____________________________ Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery International Science Congress Association her two smaller species L. displayed a relatively difference rate of changes in length and weight with allometrically negative b3.0). The “b” values also growth condition such as development of gonads or food availability for the respective . In view of the importance of length -weight relationships in understanding growth and stock dynamics of fish populations, it has been extensively studi ed in several species of fishes distributed in different parts of the world. weight relationships in silverbellies have been derived Pacific regions, and the Indian sub -continent has been a major site for study of these fishes 17 gave detailed L. dussumieri from the Gulf of Mannar, reporting ‘b’ values of 2.9591, 3.1732 and 3.3976 for males, immature females and mature females, . Batcha and Badrudeen have been reported that L. brevirostris from the Palk described the relation between length and weight in L. from Palk Bay reported value of ‘b’ is to be 2.87. the reported ‘b’ value is to from Calicut coast of Kerala 21. Nagarajan, derived the length- weight relationship in L. dussumieri, S. insidiator and G. minuta coast, estimated the ‘b’ values are to be 3.0717, 3.1245, 3.3032 and 3.0624 respect ively. The length bindus has been described from the Kakinada coast (Murty) and the West Bengal coast23 . From Parangipettai, Jayabalan and Krishna Bhat [24] reported ‘b’ value of different stages of minuta which ranged from 2 .5939 to 3.1629. The ‘b’ value was reported to be 2.97 from Kakinada and 3.286 from West Bengal25 Jayabalan, derived the length insidiator from Porto Novo and reported ‘b’ to be 2.864 and 2.906 for males and females respectively. Seah26 from Malaysia, reported ‘b’ value of 2.45727 . derived the length weight relationship of from Cochin, Kerala and reported ‘b’ value as 3.463. In the current study, the value of ‘b’for 2.9143. Studies of28 Froese and Pauly the value of the regression coefficient ‘b’ reported for Silver bellies from other parts of the Indian Ocean and Western/Central Pacific Ocean as listed and are seen to range mostly between 2.5 and 3.4. Figure-1 Map showing study area Figure-2 Length weight relationship pooled samples of Secutor insidator represented in the catches of Visakhapatnam. a. Original data; b. log transformed data y = 2.892x R² = 0.968 0.50.70.91.11.31.51.751.851.952.05  \n Log of length _____________________________ ____ ISSN 2320 – 6535 Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci. 2 weight relationship in L. berbis, L. dussumieri, S. insidiator and G. minuta from the Tuticorin coast, estimated the ‘b’ values are to be 3.0717, 3.1245, 3.3032 ively. The length -weight relationship in L. has been described from the Kakinada coast (Murty) 22 . From Parangipettai, Jayabalan and reported ‘b’ value of different stages of G. .5939 to 3.1629. The ‘b’ value was reported to be 2.97 from Kakinada and 3.286 from West Jayabalan, derived the length -weight relationship in S. from Porto Novo and reported ‘b’ to be 2.864 and 2.906 for males and females respectively. Studies of Mazlan and from Malaysia, reported ‘b’ value of S. insidiator as . derived the length weight relationship of S. insidiator from Cochin, Kerala and reported ‘b’ value as 3.463. In the current study, the value of ‘b’for S. insidiator derived was Froese and Pauly the value of the regression coefficient ‘b’ reported for Silver bellies from other parts of the Indian Ocean and Western/Central Pacific Ocean as listed and are seen to range mostly between 2.5 and 3.4. represented in the catches of Visakhapatnam. a. 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