Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Relationship between body size and certain breeding behavior in selected species of Elasmobranchs off Mumbai

Volume 54 Issue 2

Sadashiv Gopal Raje, Thakur Das and Sujit Sundaram /doi: 10.6024/jmbai.2012.54.2.01691-14

Abstract

Social organization in elasmobranchs is complex and poorly understood. In India, no specific studies on the behaviour of this resource have been published. Breeding behavior in six species of sharks, two species of skates and three species of rays were deduced from length frequency data in relation to body size and sex. The species of sharks investigated are Scoliodon laticaudus, Rhizoprionodon acutus, Carcharhinus macloti, Carcharhinus sorrah, Carcharhinus limbatus, Loxodon macrorhinus and Sphyrna lewini. The species of skates observed were Rhinobatos annandalei and Rhyncobatus djiddensis and rays were Himantura imbricata, Himantura alcockii and Gymnura japonica. Based on the present observations mating areas, pupping and nursery grounds for juveniles, segregation and aggregation of adults were recorded.

Keywords

Elasmobranchs, nursery grounds, mating congregation, Mumbai.

Date : 01-02-2013