Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Observations on the spawning biology of Nibea albida (Cuvier) in the Cochin Estuary.

Volume 33 Issue 1&2

B.Madhusoodana Kurup and C. T. Samuel

Abstract

The maturity and spawning of Nibea albida (Cuvier) in the Cochin Estuary were studied from January to December 1990. The spawning season of the species was found to be during July to November. The ova diameter frequencies of fully ripe ovary showed the presence of two batches of mature eggs which are sharply differentiated from the general stock of immature ova, suggesting the indication of two successive spawning with a very short interval. Comparatively high gonadosomatic values were observed from August to November indicating intense gonadial activity and from December onwards a noticeable fall was observed upto June. The size at first maturity for male is around 195 nun SL and for female is around 215 mm SL. The sex ratio| in all the months of the year conformed with the expected 1 :1 ratio. Fecundity of the species varied from 1,08,864 to 13,87,440 eggs in fishes ranging in size from 198.0 to 520 mm SL and the relationships obtained were log F=- —0.2979 + 2.3751 log L, log F=3.3419 + 0.8220 log W for length and weight respectively. The ' r' values were 0.9419 for SL and 0.9602 for body weight.

Date : 31-12-1991