Change of form and dimensiolnal relationship in the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata from Gulf of Mannar

Abstract

Samples of the pearl oyster, Pinctada fucatcl, collected frolm Tholayiram, Pulipundu and Kztdammthu paars in the Gulf of Mannar were andysed to study the relationsh'p among the linear dimensions, namely dolrsoventral measurement, hinge length, znteroposterior measurement and thickness. A change of form occum from ~ubqu~a~dirn~ thee young to oblong in the iMtul#t oyste,rs. The hinge length is about 1.22 -1.26 timcs .the dorsoventral dimension in the youngest sizz group, but ~ h t hk a m e equal at a size of about 35 mm. The~reafter,t he doimoventral dimension is dways Erealter than the hinge I'ne.