Morphometric and Meristic studies of Indian Mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1817) off Southern Coast of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The Indian mackerel forms a major fishery resource by itself in the Indian marine fisheries sector. The present study based on interrelationships between various morphometric characters, viz., LF, LS, UO, UG, OO, Eg, D1D1, D2D2, Ph, Vh, AA, UD1, UD2, Uph, UVh, UA, h, q, UJ against total length (Table 1). Coefficient of correlation (r) indicated highest positive correlation between total length and forked length (r= 0.9874) and lowest in total length and greatest pupil diameter (r=0.6742). The various body part ratio of the fish are as given. The meristic counts recorded during the period under study were gill rakers on lower limb & upper limb arch, first dorsal fin spines, first dorsal fin rays, dorsal finlets count, anal finlets count and number of pylori caeca were examined. It is clear that the gill rakers very long, visible when mouth is opened, 30 to 44 in numbers on lower limb of first gill arch; gill rakers on upper limb arch 15 to 21; first dorsal fin spine 9 to 10; first dorsal fin rays 12; second dorsal fin and anal fins each followed by 5 finlets; numerous pylori caeca ranges between 350 to 480.