REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF MULLET, VALAMUGIL BUCHANANI FROM MULKY ESTUARY OFF ARABIAN SEA, DAKSHINA KANNADA, INDIA

摘要

The present investigation was carried out on reproductive biology of commercially important mullet (Valamugil buchanani) from the Mulky estuary of Dakshina Kannada coast during the period November, 2008 to October, 2009. The species spawned only once a year over a prolonged period extending from August to January with a peak in November to December. The female attained first maturity at 177 cm while the male at 181 cm. Male always recorded lower values of Gonado - Somatic Index (G.S.I.) and is significantly (P<0.5) different from that of female owing to the greater ovary weight. The G.S.I values were high during August to January with peaks in November to December implying prolonged spawning. Overall predominance of female in the population was noticed with the sex ratio of female to male was 1:0.65