LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP OF SPINY EEL Macrognathus pancalus (Hamilton-Buchanan) FROM UPPER ASSAM, INDIA

Abstract

Length-weight relationship of Macrognathus pancalus had been carried out from two different waterbodies of upper Assam during 2009-2011. The pool data for the co-efficient of regression (b) was recorded as 1.408 in juveniles; 2.977 in males; 3.034 in females. It reveals that females have better growth than males and juvenile. The ‘b’ for males was found to be minimum (1.408) in 6-9 cm and maximum (3.024) in15-18 cm whereas, for females the lowest (1.807) in 9-12 cm and highest (3.202) in >15 cm groups. In different seasons, the ‘b’ value ranged from 2.982 (pre-monsoon) to 3.253 (winter) for males while for females, from 2.825 (post-monsoon) to 3.571 (winter). It indicates that both the sexes did not follow the cube law (b=3). The higher condition factor ‘K’ for males (4.622) and females (4.362) were observed in 9-12 cm and lower values for males (4.128) and for females (3.961) were recorded in 12-15 cm and >15 cm length group. The maximum (4.282) and minimum (3.686) of ‘K’ for males were recorded in post monsoon and pre-monsoon while in female, the maximum (4.376) in monsoon and minimum (3.913) in winter. It reveals that the species were in good conditions. The ‘r’ values for in all cases were found to be highly correlated between length and weight. 

Keywords

• Macrognathus pancalus,Length-weight,Condition factor,Assam,India

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