The metric and meristic characters of Drepane punctata from Versova Fish Landing Centre of Bombay have been studied. The meristic characters showed considerable variations. The number of dorsal fin rays were relatively stable characters. Statistical interpretation of metric data indicated that there is a direct relationship between the preanal, predorsal in relation to total length and eye-diameter in relation to head length

Choudhary, P.S.

Mishra, K.N.

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BIOLOGY AND MORPHOMETRY STUDY OF DREPANE PUNCTATA 
(CUV & VAL) AT JUVENILE STAGE OF BOMBAY COAST 
K. N. Mishm and P. S. Ohoudhary 
Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Bombay-61 
ABSTRACT 
The metric and meristic characters of Drepane punctata from Versova fish 
landing Centre of Bombay have been studied. The meristic characters showed 
considerable variations. The number of dorsal fin rays were relatively stable 
characters. Statistical interpreta_tion of metric data indicated that there is a 
direct rehtionship between the preanal, predorsal in relation to total length 
and eye-diameter in relation to head length. 
INTRODUCTION 
The genus Drepane was first created by Cuv & Val to distinguish the deep 
bodied quadranguilar fishes with long acythe like pectorals, tapering to the 
base of caudal. Prior to the above writters, these species were included by 
Linnaeus in the genus Chaetodon owing to their similarity in size and shape 
and also to the similarity in the possession of the briliant silvery glose on 
sides, BLoch, Lacepede and Russel (180 1), followed. Linnaeus in the 
nomenclature of the genus and added a few more species. 
Day (1958) described this species from the Red Sea and east coast of 
Africa through the seas of India to Australia. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
For the present study 200 spedimens of D. punctata were collected 
during December to February, 1980, from Versova Fish landing Centre for 
study of le~gth frequancy, condition factor, metric, meristic, and sex ratio. 
40 
•;. F 
40 
20 
Kn. 
900 
700 
500 
0 TL. 
80 100 120 140 
FIG.1 Length frequency distribution 
in Q. Punctota. 
"f ~ ~X10Q ::j+--r-~-.--~---.H-L----
25 
27 
r I.O.S. X 100 HL 
E X 100 
31r 
29 HL 
10 20 40 50 
FIG.3 Index values for snout length (S l. 
inter orbital spoce(lOSl. eye dio.(E l in 
relation to head tength(HLl in D. punctato. 
t---r.:;-,---"""On;:;----,-;;;;:----,L eng th 
70 90 110 130 
FIG.2 Relationship between length and 
relative condition foetor 
45 P.A. 
35 
25 
/ 
/,_,, 
/ ~:-2.170 
L--,----.-----.-TL 
57 P.D. 
40 b= CJ-485 
0 = 3·886 
'---~;;-----t:;;":;;----,7:' TL 80 100 120 
9 ED. 
7 
b= 0.221 
q:1·820 
FIG.4 Regression ·or Pre-anol(P.A J, 
Pre-dorsal(P.D.l in relation to total length 
<TU & eye dio.<EOl in relation to head length(HU. 
The total length frequency distribution of D. punctata are given in 
(fig. 1), for graphic representation, the frequencies were converted in to 
percentage and these were plotted against the respective length groups. Although 
the influence on length frequency distribution are based on large number of 
samples taken as cross section of the samples analysed has been given so as 
to get an over all picture of the different age groups p<resent in the commercial 
catch. 
'"(he relative condition factors Kn (Le cren 1951) of Dr. punctata was 
calculated by employing the formula Kn=w jW where w is the observed weight 
are plotted (Fig. 2) and their relationship with observed and a.alculated 
weight are in table-3. 
41 
The metric and meristic characters were made as per standard procedure 
adopted earlier by Dwivedi and Menezes ( 197 4). The length of speciemens 
ranged from 60-130 mm. 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Metric characters studied are preanel pre dorsal in relation to total length 
and eyediameter in relation to head len.gth were studied. The index values 
for snout length, inter orbital space and eyediamater have been made with 
refelience to head length (Fig. 3). The regression of pre anal (0.035) pre 
dorsal (0.486) and eye diameter (0.221) were studied (Fig 4). 
40 
30 
20 
10 
0 9 100 110 120 130 
f!l(;.5. Sex percentage in Dsepane-ounctata. 
45·1• 45°10 
-1\ 30 30 
15 
28 
50 
30 
1 Q,..l..---r.;c;::---
'1. 20 
40 
29 30 OF 
22 A 
15 
' 
0 
'I 25 60 • 
27 
40 
20 
0 14 15 16 
•!. 
40 
:2 9 Vert 
17 
\ ~ 20 20 ' 
Pect. 
! 
I 
O 44 <16 "'"4il' Ll 0 10 11 12 GR 
FIG 6 Frequency Polygons for number of Dorsal finrays (OF >,Pectoral f1nrays (Pee! l,Anal 
finrays (Al,L atl!"ralline scale(Ll l. Vertibrae (Vert> & Gill rakP" s (GR l. 
42 
The Iiatio of females to males in the ov.er all sample was 13: 7. The 
females being compartively more abundent than males (Fig. 5). 
Amongst the meristic charectors, the number of 1eterals line scales, 
vertebrae, gill rakars and fin rays of dorsal, pectoral, ventral, anal and caudal 
fins have been 'studied. Their mean values, variations, standard erliOr and 
coefficient of variations are given in Table-2 and their percentage frequency 
distribution is shown in (Fig. 6). 
The number of dorsal, pectoral, ventral, anal, caudal fin rays and lateral 
line scales show differences from that of earlier authors Day (1958) and 
Munro (1955). From coefficient of variation of meristic charact,ers, it seems 
that dorsal fin are stable characters. 
The result of the meristic charaoters of D. Punctata has been given along 
with earlier auhors in Table-2. It -is clear from this table that present studies 
of meristic characters are quite different from that of Day (1958) and Munro 
(1955). 
Hemoe the stable species chanactJers, .the number of dottsal fin rays can 
help in charaotarizing fu,e speciets and in studing the localized population. 
The value of Kn' is highiest at 110 mm may be due to attainment of 
first maturity. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
I am grateful to Dr. S. N. Dwivedi, Director of CIFE, Bombay for his 
keen interest, encouragement and quidance and also for criticaly going 
through the manuscript and for offering helpful suggestions for the improve-
ment of the text. 
REFERENCES 
Bloch, Lacepede and Russel. 1801 Histoirre naturelle tJ.es poissonis 3: 558 pp. 
Cuvier, G. and A. Valenciennes. -1829 Historrie natureNe dies poissons 3: 500 pp. 
Day, F. 1958 The Fishes of India, Reprinted, Willam Dawson and Sons Ltd., 
London. 
43 
Dwivedi, S. N. and M. R. Menezes. 1974. A note on the morphometry and 
ecobgy of Brachiurues Orientalis (Bloch & Schneider) in the estuaries of Goa. 
Geobios. 1: 30-83. 
Gunther, A. 1859. Catalogu.e otf thie Acanthopterygian fishes in the collec-tion 
of British Museum. 1:,524 pp. 
Linnaeus, C. D. 1951. Systerna naturae. J. Anim. Ecol., 20: 201-210. 
MUltlw, I.S.R. 1955. The marine and freshwater fishes of Ceyvcm. Deptt. of 
External Affairs, Canberra, 349 P'P· 
TABLE 1 
Variation of Meristic Characters in D. Punctata. 
Characters Range Mode Mean -+-Standard Co-efficient 
error* of variation 
Dorsal fin rays 28-29 28 29 + 0.04 0.14 
Pectoral fin rays 14-17 15 15.51 + 0.22 5.00 
Anal fin rays 20-22 21 21 + 0.04 4.70 
Lateral line scales 45-48 46 47 + 0.34 4.53 
Gill rackers 10-12 11 22 + 0.02 2.45 
Vertabrae 25-28 27 27.5 + 0.01 4.58 
* 95% level of confidence. 
TABLE 2 
Meristic Characters in D. Punctata 
FIN RAYS Lateral Gill VerL 
Authors Dorsal Pectoral Ventral Anal Caudal line rakers 
scakes 
Day (1958) 8-9/21-22 17 1/5 3/18-19 15 50-55 
Mumo (1955) 8-9/10-22 3/17-19 50-55 
Present study 8/20-22 14-17 1/4 3/17-19 19 46-48 10-12 25-28 
44 
TABLE - 3 
Value of Relative Condition Factor in Relation to Observed and 
Calculated weight 
Characters 
Observed weight 6.0 9.5 15.0 18.0 24.0 32.0 43.2 
Calculated weight 14.13 17.36 20.19 22.74 22.0 27.82 30.94 
Relative condi-
tion factor 0.429 0.588 0.730 0.783 0.960 0.875 0.750 


Biology and morphometry study of Drepane punctata (Cuv and Val) at juvenile stage of Bombay coast

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Biology and morphometry study of Drepane punctata (Cuv and Val) at juvenile stage of Bombay coast

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