Life History traits of Silver Roughy Hoplostethus ntediterraneus (Cuvier) (Family: Trachichthydae) from the Continental Slope of South West Coast of India
Life History traits of Silver Roughy Hoplostethus ntediterraneus (Cuvier) (Family: Trachichthydae) from the Continental Slope of South West Coast of India
Date
2006
Authors
Venu, S
Kurup, B. Madhusoodana
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Society of Fisheries Technologists (India)Cochin
Abstract
Distribution, abundance, sex ratio, food and feeding, maturation and spawning and
length-weight relationship of Hoplostethus mediterraneus (Cuvier) inhabiting the continental
slope of south west coast of India were studied. The data for the present study was collected
from the deep sea exploratory fishing surveys conducted onboard FORV Sagar Sampada in
the Arabian sea between 7° N latitude and 14° N latitude during 1999 - 2002. H. mediterraneus
was found to be distributed in the depth range 280 - 682m. Depth wise distribution was found
beyond 300m and at 8° to 10° N, it was found only in the depth zone 301 - 400m. While at 11° to
13° N, its occurrence was registered only beyond 400m. It showed a wider bathymetrical
distribution (300 - 682m) in the latitude 10° -110 N. Length related chi square analysis of sex
ratio in H. mediterraneus revealed that males skewed in all length groups as well as in all
seasons. Spawning season of H. mediterraneus coincided with pre-monsoon and monsoon
seasons. Feeding intensity was found to be very less and found to be feeding on myctophids,
Aristeus spp., Heterocarpus spp., squids etc. LWR obtained for the depth zones 301 - 400 m and
401-500 m are Log W = -1.06 + 2.3 Log L and Log W = -0.88 + 2.12 Log L respectively.
Description
Keywords
Hoplostethus mediterraneus, distribution, biology, deep sea. Length-weight relationship
Citation
Fishery Techn 43(2):204-211