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Reproductive and feeding biology of unicorn leatherjacket, Aluterus monoceros from the Bay of Bengal, Northern Indian Ocean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2021

Shubhadeep Ghosh Open the ORCID record for Shubhadeep Ghosh [Opens in a new window] ,
Manas Munivenkatappa Hoshalli ,
Satishkumar Mamidi ,
Prathibha Rohit  and
Gopalakrishnan Achamveetil
Shubhadeep Ghosh*
Affiliation:
Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Visakhapatnam 530003, Andhra Pradesh, India
Manas Munivenkatappa Hoshalli
Affiliation:
Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Visakhapatnam 530003, Andhra Pradesh, India
Satishkumar Mamidi
Affiliation:
Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Visakhapatnam 530003, Andhra Pradesh, India
Prathibha Rohit
Affiliation:
Mangalore Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mangalore 575001, Karnataka, India
Gopalakrishnan Achamveetil
Affiliation:
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi 682018, Kerala, India
*
Author for correspondence: Shubhadeep Ghosh, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

No prior comprehensive information on the reproductive biology and trophodynamics of Aluterus monoceros was globally available. The present study was performed on 1036 individuals landed along the western Bay of Bengal during 2017 to 2019. Length ranged between 25.3–64.4 cm in females (mean at 48.34 cm) and from 21.5–64.1 cm in males (mean at 47.83 cm). Growth was negatively allometric with no significant difference between sexes. Sex ratio (F:M) was 1.03 with variations based on sizes and months. Size at sexual maturity for females and males was 40.85 and 41.60 cm, respectively. The species spawned throughout the year with major and minor peaks during February to May and October and November. Absolute fecundity increased linearly with length and weight and ranged from 33,640 eggs to 12,39,202 eggs. Stomachs were empty or with trace amounts of food in 59.17%, part-full in 34.07% and full in 6.76% of the fishes. Stomach vacuity and fullness and predator–prey weight ratios varied with an increase in body size, implying higher feeding intensity in large-sized fishes. Feeding activity was more intense during June–August and less during the peak spawning months. The species is omnivorous and a bottom feeder. Teleosts contributed the most to the prey items (43.23% by Index of Preponderance) implying preference for carnivory. Ontogenetic shifts and seasonal variations in prey items were observed. The present study provides paramount information that can significantly contribute to the management and conservation of monacanthid stocks in northern Indian Ocean.

Keywords

Dietfeeding intensitylength compositionMonacanthidaespawning periodicityunicorn leatherjacket
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 101 , Issue 5 , August 2021 , pp. 839 - 851
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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