Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Seed identification of four species of mullets off Ratnagiri, west coast of India

Volume 29 Issue 1&2

BARVE S. K. Barve and D. R. Jalhal

Abstract

For selective stocking, particularly when depending on seed from the wild as in mullet culture, proper identity of fry/seed is very essential. In India, information on this aspect is rather meagre — on only seven species and restricted mainly to their colouration, body profile and morphometric measurements — characters which change with growth and thereby resulting even in erroneous descriptions. In the present work, therefore, seed of four species available locally off Ratnagiri viz. Liza parsia, L. fade, Valamugil seheli and Ellochelon vaigiensis have been described in detail with special emphasis, on characters that do not alter with age such as lateral line scale count, position of anal fin, number of anal fin elements, shape and nature of maxilla, number and arrangement of pyloric caeca, etc. Adults have been thoroughly examined in order to correctly assign the fry to their respective species. A field key for easy separation of seed of above species, especially in live condition, has been incorporated.

Date : 31-12-1987