Size variation, growth, condition index and spawning periodicities of three species of molluscs were studied for a period of 15 months from a polluted and a relatively clean marine habitat near Bombay, Maharashtra, India. Growth of Saccostrea cucullata was 1.2 times and of Cerithium rubus was 1.6 times higher in unpolluted habitat than the polluted water. Spawning was during premonsoon in S. cucullata, post monsoon in C. rubus and monsoon in Tellina angulata. Condition index and percentage edibility values were higher at less polluted stations

Govindan, K.

Krishnakumari, L.

Nair, V.R.

Aquatic Commons

Journal of the Indian Fisheries Association 
20, 1990, 21-29 
SOME ASPECTS ON GROWTH AND CONDITION INDEX OF SACCOSTREA 
ClJCULLATA (BORN), CERITHIUM RUBUS (DESH) AND TELUNA ANGULATA 
GMELIN FROM BOMBAY COAST 
L. KRISHNAKUMARI, VIJA Y ALAKSHMI R. NAIR* AND K. GOVINDAN* 
National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa - 403 004 
ABSTRACT 
Size variation, growth, condition index and spawning periodicities of three species of molluscs 
were studied for a period of 15 months from a polluted and a relatively clean marine habitat near 
Bombay. Growth of Saccostrea cucullata was 1.2 times and ofCerithium robus was 1.6 times 
higher in unpolluted habitat than the polluted water. Spawning was during premonsoon in 
S.cucullata, post monsoon in C.robus and monsoon in T. angulata. Condition index and 
percentage edibility values were higher at less polluted stations. 
INTRODUCTION 
An understanding of growtft rate, spawning 
periodicity and condition index . is of 
importance in the. evaluation of a species 
nutritive value and its suitable period of harvest. 
Information on these aspects in molluscs 
from coastal waters of Maharashtra is limited 
(Kasinathan & Govindan 1975; Kasinathan et 
al., 1975; Nagabhushanam & Mane, 1975 and 
Talikhedkar et al., 1976). The present work 
compares growth and condition of Saccostrea 
cucullata, Cerithium rubus and Tellina angulata 
inhabiting different environments. 
MA TEIUAL AND METHODS 
72° 45E 
0 1.11 ll.OKm 
rd 
A 
R 
A 
8 
I ~ ,, 
A ry.~'Q 
N 
s 
E 
5' A 
Fig. 1. Station locations 
I 
i 
-rd 
5' 
Three areas were selected along the coast 
of Bombay between lat. 18°55' and 19° 09' N 
and long. 72° 4 7' and 72° 59' E (Fig.l ). Sites 1 at 
Bandra and 2 at Shivaji park were 
characterised by wide fluctuations of salinity, 
dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand 
and nutrients. Low levels of DO associated 
with high levels of BOD and nutrients 
indicated polluted conditions of these stations 
whereas at site 3 from Mudh high DO 
associated with low values of BOD and normal 
levels of nutrients indicated prevailing good 
water quality (Krishnakumari and Nair, 1984-
85). Study organisms were collected in triplicate 
at monthly intervals for a period of fifteen months 
from March 81 to May 82 using 25 cm2 ouadrant. 
The size of S.cucullata ranged from 6.1 to 48 
mm at site 1 and 15.1 to 51 mm at site 3. In 
C.rubus the size ranged from 5.1 to 24.5 mm and 
15.6 to 27.5 mm respectively at sites 1 and 3 and 
in T.angulata from 10.1 to 50 mm. Sex was 
determined by microscopic examination of 
the gonad smear for S.cucullata and T.angulata 
and in C.rubus the gonad with bright orange 
colour was considered as male.and pale yellow 
*Regional Centre, National Institute of Oceanography, Bombay · 400 061. 
21 
22 KRISHNAKUMARI, NAIR AND GOVINDAN 
as female. Wet and dry wt (700C) of the tissue 
was recorded. For size frequency analysis 
grouping was done at an intervalof3 mm for 
S.cucullata, 1.5 mm for C.rubus and 2.5 mm 
for T.angulata. Breeding periodicity was 
calculated based on monthly percentage 
occurrence of mature gonads and also the 
spent gonads (indeterminates) in the sample. 
Condition index and percentage edibility 
were also determined according to Walne 
(1974) and Krishnakumari, Rajagopal and 
Sumitra-Vijayaraghavan (1977). 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Figs. 2-4 represents the size frequency 
distribution of S.cucullata, C.rubus and 
T.angulata. In S.cucullata monthly growth rate 
fluctuated from 2-3 mm (av: 2.65 mm) at site 1 
and 1-6 mm (av : 3.09 mm) at site 3 (chart 1 
a&b). Irrespective of sites maximum growth 
was recorded during April-June months. 
Monthly growth in C.rubus at site 1 
varied from 0.56-0.75 mm and at site 3 from 
0.75-1.5 mm (chart 1 c&d). Mean for the entire 
period of study was 0.7 mm at site 1 and 1.1 mm 
at site 3. 
In T.angulata growth rate fluctuated from 
2.08-2.14 mm with an average monthly growth 
of 2.11 mm per month (chart 1e). 
Length-weight relationship of S.cucullata 
and C.rubus is given in Fig.5. Calculated 
weight against length was derived by 
applying the formula W = a x Ln (Rao, 
Krishnakumari and Dwivedi, 1975). The 
derived equations for S.cucullata and C.rubus 
are given in Fig.5. The obtained length-
weight relationship in T.angulata was 
Wt = 0.0166 X L2·56• 
The density of S.cucullata varied from 124-
348/m2 (av.244/m2) and %-300/m2 (av.1%/m 2) 
respectively for site 1 & 3. In C.rubus the 
numerical abundance ranged from 84-572/m2 
(av.210/m2) at site 1 and 96-268/m2 
(av.160/m2) at site 3. Thus the density of the 
species was higher in polluted areas than 
at relatively clean marine habitat. 
The study on sex ratio of the different 
species gives the following information. In 
S.cucullata on an average male represents 
31.3%, female 56.9% and indeterminates 
11.8% at site 1 and 34.6%, 48.5% and 16.9% at 
site 3 respectively. Seasonally postmonsoon 
sustained maximum number of mature male 
whereas female dominates during premonsoon. 
Peak spawning extends from January-May at 
both the stations. 
In C.rubus f~om site 1 male accounted 
for 28.1 %, female 65.5% and indeterminates 
6.4%. At site 3 the corresponding values 
were 36.6%, 52.7% and 10.7%. Spawning 
period extends from October to January. 
However in both the species S.cucullata and 
C.rubus percentage contribution of female 
was higher than male and in T.angulata 
male (50,8%) dominates female (18.95%). 
Spawning period in T.angulata was noticed 
from June-August. 
Condition index of oyster S.cucullata 
ranged from 63.13-98.45% with an average 
value of 77.64% at site 1 and 90.32-116.08% 
(av.99.%%) at site 3 (Table 1). Percentage 
edibility of C.rubus varied from 7.64 to 8.72% 
(site 1) and 12.04 to 15.08% (site 3). Non-
spawning period sustained high values in 
both the species. 
Maximum growth of 6 mm/month in 
S.cucullata during April-June corresponds with 
the observation of Rao and Nair (1956). Walne 
(1958) reported a decrease in growth rate as 
the organism increases in size. Spawning 
periodicity of S.cucullata agrees with the 
earlier reports of Nagabhushanam and 
Bidarkar (1977) and that of C.rubus as in 
other gastropod species of Bombay (Kasinathan 
and Govindan, 1975; Kasinathan et al., 1975). 
Observation of spawning in monsoon in 
T.angulata agrees with that of Harkantra 
(1975). 
The trend in population density observed 
in the present study agrees with the earlier 
report (Gajbhiye anp Desai, 1981) with maximum 
Chart. 1 :Shifting of modes in S.cucullata from sites 1 & 3 (a & b) and C.rubus from sites 1 & 3 (c&d) and T.anqulata from site 2(e) 
Mar'S! 27 33 a 39 33 b 18.5 c 21.5 d 17.5 e 
I I 
Apr 36 30 24 17.0 20.0 
I I I 
May 36 27 18.5 
I 
June 3f 36 ·2o.o 24.5 I 
July 33 42 39 30 '21.5 21.5 22.5 
\ I I I 
Aug 39 18 42 33 20.0 23.0 30.0 
I I I 
Sept 27 36 17.0 21.5 37.5 27.5 
I I 
Oct 42 24 45 18.5 20.0 35.0 
I I I I 
Nov 48 3f 1r 39 3f 18.5 21.5 37.5 I 
Dec 33 27 21 48 33 21.5 18.5 21.5 
I I I 
Jan'82 39 30 36 30 20.0 42.5 
I 
Feb 27 42 27 21.5 
l l 
Mar 42 30 24 21.5 40.0 
I 
Apr 36 27 42 36 30 20.0 20.0 45.0 
I I I I I I 
May 45 33 51 42 33 21.5 21.5 47.5 
-·---------- --·-·····-- - -- ---
N 
~ 
>-
(.) 
:z 
IJJ 
::::> 
C'J 
IJJ 
0:: 
u. 
20 JuLy 
10 
10 JllfUII 
2 
20 March,81 
10 
20 
10 
20 
10 
20 
10 
10 
20 
10 
KRISHNAKUMARI, NAIR. AND GOVINDAN 
40 
20 
SI.ZE GROUPS 
40 May 
20 
10 
10 
60 
40 
2 
10 
April 
b 
Fig. 2. Size frequency histogram for S.cucullata from sites l(a) and 3(b) 
>-
u 
z 
w 
::> 
0 
w 
0:: 
u.. 
w 
(!) 
q; 
1-
z 
w 
u 
a:: 
w 
0... 
GROWI'H Of S. CUCULLATA, C.RUBUS 1,\ND T. ANOl.HATA 25 
a 
May 
Feb. 
40 March,81~-o Aug, 
20 
n 
eoldh: 
20 
60Lm: 
20 
60Wh: May
20 
60lnh: 
20 
::lnh:h,81 Lill: Lnn:82 
17 20 2'3 25 17 20 23 26 17 20 23 26 
SIZE GROUPS 
Fig. 3. Size frequency histogram for C.rubus from sites l(a) and 3(b) 
26 KRISHNAKUMARI, NAIR AND GOVINDAN 
July December 40 May 
40 
20 
2Q 
40 40 November 
20 
20 
~40 40 40 October 
>- 20 (.) 20 z 20 
w 
::> 
0 
w 
e: 40 April 40 September February 
20 
.20 
Jonuary 1 82 
20 20 
12.5 17.5 22.5 27.5 32.5 12.5 45 50 55 
SIZE GROUPS 
Fig. 4. Size frequency histogram for T.angulata . 
25q 
200 
150 
100 
50 
0 
~ 
en 400 
E 
~ 
..... 350 
.c 
en 
'(j) 
3: 300 
>. 
1... 
0 
20 
150 
100 
50 
a 
b 
0 
15 
GROWTH OF S. CUCULLATA, C.RUBUS AND T. ANGULATA 27 
0-9856 
Wt =4·9923XL 
1.5198 
Wt =.1.0046 XL 
•- observed wt .. 
o- calculated wt 0 
0 
0 
25 35 45 
60 
50 
40 
30 
20 
10 
so 
70 
c 
d 
1.607 
Wt= 0.2761XL 
1-0412 
o Wt"2.356 XL 
// 
60 
50 
40 
30 
20 
10 
13 17 19 21 23 25 27 
1------------------Average Length ( mm) ---------1 
Fig. 5. Length-weight relationship- a & b for S.cucullata from sites 1 & 3; c & d for C.rubus from sites 
1 &3. 
28 KRISHNAKUMARI, NAIR AND GOVINDAN 
Table 1 :Monthly variations in condition index of S.cucullaia and percentage edibility of C.rubus from sites 1 & 3. 
S.cucullata 
Condition index 
Months Site 1 Site 3 
Mar81 63.13 101.13 
Apr 91.23 107.17 
May 77.98 93.38 
June 85.94 102.21 
Jut 67.26 90.62 
Aug 77.25 94.66 
Sept 67.47 116.08 
Oct 66.34 103.41 
Nov 98.45 98.46 
Dec 70.01 109.61 
Jan'82 85.54 100.32 
Feb 77.23 90.32 
Mar 90.58 97.72 
Apr 77.69 92.74 
May 68.53 101.56 
density at polluted environment. Condition 
index value of 120 has been recorded as 
healthy and between 70-80 as very poor 
(Walne, 1958). In the present study condition 
index and percentage edibility values were 
low . in organisms from site 1. Deterioration 
of water quality at site 1 has been already 
reported (Krishnakumari and Nair, 1984-85) 
and hence the lower growth rate, condition index 
and percentage edibility of molluscs from site 
1 could be attributed to the impact of such 
environmental deterioration. Although wave 
action plays a major role in the growth assessment 
of organisms from intertidal rocky shores 
(Tong, 1986), this factor is nullyfied since both 
sites 1 and 3 are characterised by similar 
degrees of wave exposure. Thus the 
intraspecific variations in populations of the 
two molluscs studied presently can be 
attributed mainly to the environmental 
pollution apart from other factors like wave 
action, food composition, breeding and body 
maintenance etc. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
The authors are thankful to Director, 
National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, for 
facilities and encouragement. 
C.rubus 
Percentage edibility 
Site 1 Site 3 
7.69 12.16 
7.68 12.21 
8.72 12.07 
8.57 12.53 
8.21 12.13 
8.08 12.41 
7.65 12.28 
7.64 12.33 
7.8 12.11 
8.24 12.04 
8.03 12.39 
8.23 12.81 
8.49 12.11 
7.82 15.08 
7.80 12.15 
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Gajbhiye, S.N. and Desai, B.N.1981. Zooplankton 
variability in polluted and unpolluted waters of 
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Harkantra, S.N.1975. Some observations on the 
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GROWTH OF C. CUCULLATA, C. RUBUS AND T. ANGULATA 29 
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Talikhedkar, P. M., Mane, U. H. and 
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Some aspects on growth and condition index of Saccostrea cucullata (Born), Cerithium rubus (Desh) and Tellina angulata Gmelin from Bombay coast

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Some aspects on growth and condition index of Saccostrea cucullata (Born), Cerithium rubus (Desh) and Tellina angulata Gmelin from Bombay coast

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