Length-weight and length-length relationships of fiveMystusspecies from the Ganges and Rupsha rivers, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study focused on the length–weight and length–length relationships of five Mystus species from Bangladesh. A sum of 398 individuals (Mystus bleekeri = 47, Mystus cavasius = 171, Mystus gulio = 59, Mystus tengra = 65, and Mystus vittatus = 56) was collected from the Ganges and Rupsha rivers, Bangladesh. Fishes were caught by gill net (mesh sizes: 2.0–4.0 cm) and cast net (mesh sizes: 1.5–3.0 cm) from July 2014 to June 2015. Total length (TL), fork length (FL) and standard length (SL) were measured to 0.1 cm, while whole body weight (W) was taken to the nearest 0.1 g for each individual. The TL ranged from 6.0–13.5 cm for M. bleekeri, 5.0–15.0 cm for M. cavasius, 7.4–17.2 cm for M. gulio, 4.6–11.6 cm for M. tengra and 5.5–12.3 cm for M. vittatus. The W varied from 3.0–18.2 g for M. bleekeri, 1.3–30.4 g for M. cavasius, 6.1–62.2 g for M. gulio, 1.7–15.1 g for M. tengra and 2.7–19.2 g for M. vittatus. All LWRs were highly significant (p < .001), with all r2 values ≥.950. The LLRs were also highly significant (p < .001), with all r2 ≥.980. This study provides information on LWRs and LLRs for M. gulio and M. tengra for the first time. The results of this study can be very effective for stock assessment of Mystus species in the Ganges and Rupsha rivers as well as in the surrounding ecosystems.