Distribution, abundance and biology of Neoepinnula orientalis and Psenes squan~ireps from the continental slope region of west coast of Indian EEZ in the depth between 200 and l000 m during 1999 - 2002 are discussed. The former species is distributed mostly in the 201 - 400m depth with more representation in the region between 7⁰ - 12⁰ N lat and P. squanlireps at 250-500m in the region 8" to 1 4 N lat. Length-weight relationship of N. orientalis and P. squaniceps can be expressed as W 6 3.08 L217 and W = 3.29 L2.27 respectively. In both the species feeding intensity was found to be very low. In N. orienthlis, squids were found to be preferred to other food items in the post-monsoon and rnyctophid fishes in other seasons. While in P. squamireps, shrimps dominated in the food items in all seasons. Females dominated irrespective of seasons and length groups in both the species. In N. orientalis, spawning period is found to be during premonsoon compared to the monsoon season in P. squamireps.

Neoepinnula orientalis, Psenes squamiceps, distribution, biology, Indian EEZ