Abstract
The length-weight relationship (LWR) and length-length relationships (LLR) of three snakehead fishes, Channa diplogramma, C. marulius and C. striata, exploited by small-scale fishers in the riverine reaches of Lake Vembanad, Kerala were studied using the allometric growth equation Y = aXb. Our analysis shows that the LWR of C. diplogramma and C. marulius is nonisometric with exponents much smaller than the cubic value (b = 3), while that of C. striata is isometric. Channa marulius showed a definite change in LWR with size, with smaller fish growing with positive allometric exponents (b greater than 3) and larger individuals having negative allometric relationship (b less than 3), indicating a possible age-related change in growth pattern. In the case of LLR, all three snakehead species showed non-isometric growth patterns. The caudal fin did not grow substantially with increasing fish length.
Highlights
Length-weight relationship (LWR) and length-length relationship (LLR) of fishes can indicate species status in an environment and characterize patterns of growth (Froese 2006; Kharat et al 2008)
The length-weight relationship (LWR) and length-length relationships (LLR) of three snakehead fishes, Channa diplogramma, C. marulius and C. striata, exploited by small-scale fishers in the riverine reaches of Lake Vembanad, Kerala were studied using the allometric growth equation Y = aXb
Snakehead fishes like C. marulius and C. diplogramma are important food fishes exploited in central Kerala, especially in the Pampa River with annual landings of 30.36 and 0.79 tons, respectively (Renjithkumar et al 2011)
Summary
Length-weight relationship (LWR) and length-length relationship (LLR) of fishes can indicate species status in an environment and characterize patterns of growth (Froese 2006; Kharat et al 2008). In this paper we determine the LWR and LLR of three species of snakeheads, Channa diplogramma, C. marulius and C. striata (Images 1–3), targeted by small-scale fishers from the Pampa and Achankovil, two important confluent rivers of Vembanad Lake in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
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