Upeneus moluccensis were collected from the catches of bottom fish trawl of "M. V. Saraswati" off Veraval coast in the area lat. 20 degree 26 N and long. 70 degree 35 E.

The fish were analysed for length-weight relationship and morphometric characters. The fishes were found to vary from 116 to 161 mm in length and 20.0 to 50.0 g in weight. The exponent value and correlation coefficient for length-weight relationship was found to be 2.73 and 0.991 respectively

Ali, Musharraf

Sanjeevan, V.N.

Aquatic Commons

Journal of the Indian Fisheries Association 
8+9, 1978-79, 49-54. 
A NOTE ON MORPHOMETRIC AND LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONS"ii'IP 
OF UPENEIJS MOLUCCENSIS (BLEEKER) OFF VERAVAL COAST. 
MusHARRAF Au & V. 1\1. SANJEEVAN 
Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Versova, Bombay-400067. 
ABSTRACT 
The fishes were collected from the catches of bottom fish trawl of ·•M. V. Saraswati" of Vernval 
coast in the area Lat. 20o:l6 ·1\1 and Long. 70o35 ·E. The fishes were analysed for length weight 
relationship and morphometric characters. The fishes were found to vary from 116 to 161 mm in 
length and 20.0 to 50 0 g in weight. The exponent value and correlation coefficient for length-weight 
relationship was found to be 2 73 and 0 991 respectively. 
Variable meristic characters were lateral line scales~ gill rakers and pectoral 
fins. The dorsal fins, ventral fin and anal fin did not show variations in their 
count. The metric characters were also compared to the total length. 
INTRODUCTION 
Upeneus moluccensis b~longs to family Mullidae. The presence of two 
barbels on the chin and a golden yellow strip as broad as pupil, passes from eye 
along the upper side of the body to the upper caudal base, 2 bands on the 
dorsal fin and 5 transeverse oblique on the upper caudal fin. are the peculiar 
characteristics of this spefies, It is interesting to note that strip was orange in 
colour, when the fishes were brought by the net on the deck and within three 
minutes the dark orange colour was changed into golden bright yellow. The 
pectoral, ventral and anal fins were devoid of any bands. 
Thomas (1969) found no record of this species from the east coast of India. 
However, some work has been carried out on the taxonomy and morphometry of 
Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker). The important contributions are those of Weber 
and De Beaufort (1931). Fowler (1933), Lackner (1954) and Sithamparam and 
Dwivedi ( 198 2). 
These fishes live in shallow water and are bottom dwellers. The flesh of 
goat fi:>hes is of yood qu:llity. The goat fishes catch reported from fishery area 51 
H exceeded 65000 tons in 198 J of which more than 55000 tonnes corresponded 
to species of Upeneus ( FAO, 1984). 
MATERIAL AND METHOD 
A total of 190 specimens were collected, from the catches of bottom fish 
trawl of M. V, "Saraswati''. Morphometric characters were measured and weight 
of the individual specimen \Nas taken. 
The fength-weight refationship was calculated using the equation "W=aLh"' 
and its logarithmic form Log W=a+ b log L, where "W·' is the weight "L" is the 
rength, and "b" are constant values obtained by the teast square meteod 
(snedecor, 1991 J. 
The data for morphometric characters were utilised followtng the rnethdology 
described by Snedecor (1961)0 and adopted by Dwivedl ene:zes (1974). 
RESUlTS AND DI'SCUSSION 
The fl'shes were found varying 1 i6 to 161 mm in tength and their weight was 
found to vary from 20.0 to 40.0 g. All fishes were grouped in 5 mm length intervals. 
straight line was obtained when the rog values for length and weight 
were plotted on graph (Fig. 1). The equation obtained is expressed as foll'ows 
1·75 
1·70 <o" :\'"!:> 
'\, 
• :\lit 
"?"" 
,'.> 
0"1 1·6 0 ""' 
-
1-
::r: 
~ 
w 
$: 
(!) 
0 
.J 
~ 
I ·55 
1·50 
1·45 
1· L, 0 
1-3 5 
1· 30 
2·06 2·08 2·10 2·12 2·14 2·16 2·18 2·20 2·22 2·2l 2·26 
Fig. l. LOG TL. LE GT H (mm) 
Fig 1. Length-weight relationship of Upeneus molcuccensis (Bleeker) 
Log W=a+b log L Log W=4 317+20736 log L or W=-0.000004816 L2 ·736. 
The exponent value was found less than three. In order to see whether 
the regression coefficient differed from three, student 't' test was applied. The 
't' value was found to be 3.139 (d.f. 189 t=1% =2.557, t 5%=1.96). which 
indicate that the regression coefficient was significantly different from three. 
MORPHOLOGICAl CHARACTERS 
The characters like standard length, per-ventral length, pre-pectral length, 
pre-anal length, pre-dorsal (1st and lind) length, maximum depth & m 
depth 8- minirr,um depth the body. Head lengih, were me:!l>SU and compared 
to the total IJngth separately. A stright !ine was uced each comparison 
(Fig. 2), which inuicc:.te tne allometric re!ationshid to the total length. 
2·06 
2·02 
'1·98 ., 
1·94 J 
1-90 
1·82 
150 
6 
0·16 
08 tOO~ 
~ A.l. 
/ 
/01 
P.l. 
B.D. t 
B.D.~ 
2D6 210 214 '218 2·22 
LOG TL l ENG H~ ( m m) 
1·94 
190 
1·66 
J-6'2 
1·58 
t=fg. Scatter diagrame showing the relationship between metric characters and 
total length of U. moluccensis 
A linear reiation::;.up was obtained for head length in compa.ns1on to diffe-
rent parts of the head region, like snout length, snout width; inter orbital space, 
post orbitar length and diameter the eye. The results are respesented in table" 
1. and ustrated in Fig. 
·26 
1 2 
l·, 8 
1 -14 
1 ·16 
1·12 
1 S~· 
1·04 
1 ·00 
0·96 
0·92 
0 8 
0 ·8 Li 
I 6 \· I· 50 \·52 \· 1.56 1·58 \·60 \·62 
Fig. H L GT ( m) 
3. Scatter diagrame showing the relationship between metric characters of Head 
region and total head length. 
ALl & SANJEEVAN 53 
The counts were made for Dorsal, Ventral, Anal and Pectoral fin rays, 
number of gill rakers on the first gill arch of the left side and number of lateral 
line scales. Maximum variati·on was observed in the case of lateral line scales 
which ranges from 33 to 38. However, number of gill rakers ranges from 20 to 
25 and pectoral fin rays from 15 to 17. their mode, mean, standard deviation, 
standard error, variance and coefficient variance and represented in table 2. 
Tne counts for Dorsal (Ist and lind), Ventral and Anal fins were found 
8/1-8, 1,5 and 1 ,6 respectively. Similar results were also recorded by Fowler, 
1933, Lackner, 1954, and Weber & De Befault, 1931. 
Upeneus moluccensis may be differentiated to the other related species 
like, Upeneoids fassiatatus (Day), Upenoides su/phureus (Day) and Upeneus 
vittatus (Bleeker). The brilliant-yellow stripe as wide as pupil of the eye (Upeneus 
moluccensis) and broad as two third of a scale (Upenoides fassiatatus), the 
addition 2-3 more stripe below and paralles to the first stripe (Upenoides 
su/phureus). Four or five oblipue l!>ands on the caudial lobe (Upeneus molluccensis) 
and on both lobes of the caudal fin lUpeneus vittatus). 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
This work is a part of the project entitled. "Ecology and Biology 
of fishes, off West Coast of India" being conducted bY Dr. S. N. Dwivedi 
Director, CIFE, Bombay. The material is essentially obtained from the ClFE Vessel 
M. V. Saraswati. The continue publication No. 04. 
Authors are also thankful to the Department of Ocean Development for the 
financial assistance. 
ABBREVIATION 
Standard length (SL L), First Dorsal length (D1 ); Second dorsal length (D2); 
Anal length (A.L.); Fectoral legth (P.L); Body depth through dorsal fin (B.D./) 
Body depth through caudal peduncle (B.D./); Ventral length (V.L.); Post orbital 
length (P.O.S); Snout length (Sn L), Snout width (Sn. width). 
REFERENCES 
1. Dwivedi, S. N., & M. R. Menezes., (1974). A note on the morphometry and 
ecology of Brachious orientis (Black & Schenider) in the estuary of Goa. 
Geobios. 1 : 80-83. 
2. FAO. (1984). Species identification sheets for fishery purposes-Western Indian 
Ocean. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United States: Rome. 
54 
3. Fowler, H. W. (1983). Contribution to the biology of the Philippine Archipelago 
and adjacent regional; U. S. JVat Mus. Bull No. : 100, 12: 328-329. 
4. Lancher, E. A. (1954). A revision of the goat fish genUS! Upeneus with descri-
ption of two new species; Proc. U. S. Nat Mus. 103 : 497-532. 
5. Le Cren, C. D. (1951). The length-weight relationship and seasonal cycle in 
gonad weight and condition in the perch (Perea fluviatilin). J. Animal Bioi. 
20 : 202-219. 
6. Sithamparam, S. and S. N. Dwivedi, (1982), Morphometry of Upeneus mol/ucce-
nsis (Bleeker) found along the Bombay coast. Proc. Indian Natn. Sci. Acad : 
848 : 623-627, 
7. Snedecore, G. W (1961 ). Statistical methods applied to experiments in Agricu-
lturs and Biology (Indian ed.) Alludpacific private Ltd., Bombay, 534. 
8. Thomas P, A, (1969) The Goat fishes (Family Mullidae) of the Indian -Seas 
33 memoir Ill, Marine Biological Association of India. p-17. 
9. Weber. M and L. F. De Beanfort (1931 ). The fishes of the Indo-Australian 
Archipe~ago : Vol 6 : 362-363, 367-369. 
"a", "b" and "r" values of various morp?lometric characters compared with total length 
Characters 
Compared with total length a b 
Standard length -0 0603 +0.9783 0 9943 
Pre-dorsal length (1st) -0.5166 +0.9901 0.9962 
Pre-dorsal length (II nd) -0 2803 + 1.0016 0.9953 
Pre-ventral length -0.4505 +0.9343 0.9875 
Pre-pectoral length -0.4054 +0.9183 0.9926 
Pre anal length -0.2457 +0.9889 0.9874 
Maximum depth -1.3748 + 1.3405 0.9927 
Minimum depth -1.2880 +1.1053 0.9216 
Head length 
Compared with Head length -03897 +9.9022 0.9929 
Snout length -0.5871 + 1.0974 0,9503 
Snout width -0.7336 +1.1544 0.8479 
Inter orbital space -0.0663 +0.6323 0.5048 
Post orbital length -0.5129 +1.0713 0.9217 
Diamter of eye -0.3596 +0.8553 0.7284 
Details of variable meristic characters 
Standard Standard Coefficient 
Character Range Mode Mean Deviation · Variance error variance 
Laterial line N = 190 33-38 35 34.95 1.194 0.086 1.426 3 41 
Gill racker N=190 20-25 22 22.51 0.097 0.072 0.994 4 43 
Pectoral fin N=190 15-17 16 15.91 0.509 0.018 0.259 3.19 


A note on morphometric and length-weight relationship of Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker) off Veraval coast

http://aquaticcommons.org/15859/1/JIFA8-9_049.pdf

A note on morphometric and length-weight relationship of Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker) off Veraval coast

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Aquatic Commons