Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences
Vol. 40 (4), August 2011, pp 567-571
Length-weight relationship, condition factor and morphometry of gold spot
mullet Liza parsia (Hamilton, 1822) from Cochin estuary
Renjini P.K. & Bijoy Nandan S.
Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry
Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Cochin 682016, Kerala, India
E.mail: [email protected]
Received 22 December 2009; revised 6 December 2010
Length-weight relationship was studied in Liza parsia collected from the Champakkara region of Cochin estuary
during the year 2009. Slope value (b) estimated for Liza parsia male was found to be 3.1545, for female 3.0094 and for
combined was 3.1938. The regression equation calculated for male was Log W = -2.2147 + 3.1545 Log L, for female was
Log W = -2.0315 + 3.0094 Log L and for combined was Log W = -2.2596 + 3.1938 Log L. Length weight relationship and
condition factor showed that the growth of L. parsia is quite satisfactory. Morphometric measurements of various body parts
and meristic counts were recorded. There is no change in meristic counts in increase in body length. Thus from the study
it could be inferred that, Liza parsia showed a satisfactory growth in the Cochin estuary.
[Keywords: Liza parsia, length-weight relationship, condition factor, morphometry–regression analysis]
Introduction
Length–weight relationship studies of any fish
species is a pre requisite for the study of its
population by LeCren1. Ponderal index or condition
factor or the ‘fatness’ (K) was worked out to assess
the well-being of the population with the assumption
that the growth of fish in ideal conditions maintain
an equilibrium in length and weight by Hile2. Data
on length-weight relationship and the associated
condition factor also enables to compare the
population of the same species from different
environments. Study of morphometric characters
in fishes is important because they can be used
for the differentiation of taxonomic units. Present
study provides comprehensive information on the
length weight relationship, relative condition factor
and morphometry of Liza parsia (Hamilton, 1822)
from Champakkara backwaters, Kerala.
Mullets form one of the important fisheries in
the coastal waters of India by Payne3. The gold spot
mullet Liza parsia (Hamilton, 1822) is one of the
common mullet in Cochin estuary and constitutes a
thriving fishery in the estuaries and brackish water
lakes of Kerala by Kurup and Samuel4. The major
contributions on Liza parsia (Hamilton, 1822) are that
of Sarojini5,6, Luther7, Kurup and Samuel8, Babu and
Neelakantan9, Baburaj10 and Wijayaratne and Costa11.
Studies on fish belonging to the family Mugilidae
(grey mullets) were considered important. Many
species of mullets raised in ponds were found quite
often associated with other species. Liza parsia is an
important species for aquaculture. A survey on the
literature of Liza parsia showed very little
information particularly in the Indian context, a
precise knowledge on its biology is important. Hence
the length-weight relationship, condition factor and
morphometry of Liza parsia from a coastal estuarine
system in Kerala is presented in this study.
Materials and Methods
Fresh fish samples were collected weekly during
April 2009 to August 2009 from the fishermen
of Champakkara region (Latitude 9º 57’27” N and
Longitude 76º19’45” E) of the Cochin estuarine
system. A total of 255 specimens of L. parsia ranging
in size from 12 cm to 30 cm were used for
the length-weight analysis, various morphometric
measurements and meristic counts were collected.
The relationship between various parameters was
determined by the multiple regression analysis using
the SPSS 16.0. After draining of the excess water
using a filter paper, the length of fish was measured
to the nearest mm using a mm scale and weight up to
0.1 g using a weighing balance. Fishes were divided
into different sexes by observing the gonads after
dissecting the abdomen. Length-weight relation of
INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 40, NO. 4, AUGUST 2011
568
Table 1—Data on length and weight of Liza parsia from Cochin Estuary
Length
group
No. of fishes
combined
12-14
14-16
16-18
18-20
20-22
22-24
24-26
26-28
28-30
4
43
71
70
77
19
6
2
1
Mean length Mean weight No. of
cm
gm
male
13.3
15.1186
16.82
18.9
20.56
22.53
24.4
27.2
28.8
20
32.28
44.62
61.54
84.6
108.6
136.2
178
200
3
32
50
40
37
15
2
0
0
Mean length Mean weight
cm
gm
13.2
15.144
16.84
18.87
20.58
22.69
24.5
0
0
20
32.5
45.2
59.95
84
110.133
132
0
0
No. of
female
1
11
21
30
40
4
4
2
1
Mean length Mean weight
cm
gm
13.6
15.05
16.78
18.94
20.55
22.975
24.35
27.2
28.8
20
31.64
43.24
63.67
85.15
103
138.25
178
200
Table 2—K values of Liza parsia for different length groups
Length group
Male
0.8681
0.9364
0.9364
0.8934
1.0827
0.8746
0.8935
12-14
14-16
16-18
19-20
20-22
22-24
24-26
26-28
28-30
K value
Female
0.7951
0.9409
0.9082
0.9288
0.9802
0.846
0.9571
0.8828
0.8372
Combined
0.8498
0.9374
0.9488
0.9094
1.0045
0.8686
0.9358
0.8828
0.8372
the fishes was calculated from the logarithmic
formula: Log W = Log a + b Log L. Thirty six
morphometric and five meristic characters were
studied following the standard procedures described
by Apparao12, and Dwivedi and Menezes13. While
doing the analysis, the total length was chosen as the
base parameter with which the other parameters were
related.
Results
Length-weight relationship
Length–weight
equations
were
calculated
separately for males, females and sexes combined.
The fish samples were divided into 2 cm length
groups (Table 1). When empirical values of lengths
were plotted against their respective weight on
an arithmetic scale, smooth curves were obtained
(Figs. 1, 2 & 3).
The length-weight relationship for Liza parsia was
calculated as (Table 2)
Fig 1—Length weight relationship of Liza parsia (Combined)
Fig: 2—Length weight relationship of Liza parsia (Male)
W = 0.0055 L3.1938
Combined
Log
W = -2.2596 + 3.1938 log l
r2 = 0.9714
W = 0.0061 L3.1545
Male
Log
W = -2.2147 + 3.1545 log l
r2 = 0.9562
W = 0.0093 L3.0094
Female
Log
W = -2.0315 + 3.0094 log l
r2 = 0.9627
Fig: 3—Length weight relationship of Liza parsia (Female)
RENJINI & BIJOY: LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP, CONDITION FACTOR AND MORPHOMETRY OF GOLD
As may be seen from the equations, the exponential
values for males, females and combined were
practically identical. The coefficient of correlation,
‘r2’ for combined, males and females for the
regression of total length and body weight were
estimated as 0.9714, 0.9562 and 0.9627 respectively
which is significant at 5% level.
Condition factor
In the present study, the condition factor of
Liza parsia male varied between 0.8621 and 1.0827,
0.7951 and 0.9802 in female and 0.8372 and 1.0045
in combined sexes.
Morphometric and meristic characters
Morphometric measurements of various parts of
the body and their percentage ratio in relation to
TL for males and females of 255 fishes are given in
Table 3. As may be seen from the tables, fork length,
standard length, pre-anal length, pre-pelvic length,
pre-pectoral length, pre-dorsal length, dorsal fin
height, body depth, body width, pelvic fin base, pelvic
fin length, anal length, girth length, anal fin length,
depth at pectoral, depth at dorsal, depth at anus, least
height of caudal peduncle, head length, eye diameter,
pre-orbital length, post-orbital length, inter-orbital
width, upper jaw length, lower jaw length, depth of
mouth, depth at eye and gape width were highly
correlated with TL. For the meristic characters, dorsal
fin rays, dorsal spines, pectoral fin rays, anal fin
spines, anal fin rays, ventral spines and ventral rays
were counted (Table 4).
Table 3—Results of statistical analysis of morphometric characters
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Male
Characters
Fork length
Standard length
Pre-anal length
Pre-pelvic length
Pre-pectoral length
Pre-dorsal length
Dorsal fin base
Dorsal fin height
Body depth
Body width
Caudal fin height
Anal fin base
Pelvic fin base
Pelvic fin length
Pectoral fin length
Anal length
Girth length
Anal fin length
Depth at pectoral
Depth at dorsal
Pectoral fin base
Height of second dorsal
Depth at anus
Length of peduncle
Least height of caudal peduncle
Head length
Eye diameter
Pre-orbital length
Post-orbital length
Inter-orbital width
Upper jaw length
Lower jaw length
Depth of mouth
Depth at eye
Gape width
569
R
.993
.992
.963
.957
.942
.965
.690
.834
.908
.884
.770
.672
.792
.913
.830
.843
.910
.781
.909
.840
.764
.811
.870
.767
.830
.913
.778
.826
.922
.921
.844
.844
.774
.870
.873
Female
R2
.987
.985
.927
.915
.887
.931
.476
.696
.825
.781
.593
.452
.628
.833
.689
.710
.829
.611
.825
.706
.583
.658
.757
.588
.689
.833
.605
.683
.850
.849
.712
.712
.600
.757
.762
R
.997
.993
.803
.965
.826
.959
.637
.884
.890
.861
.648
.658
.795
.930
.654
.892
.902
.784
.859
.881
.739
.606
.890
.694
.882
.952
.818
.891
.937
.929
.876
.876
.787
.848
.875
R2
.993
.986
.645
.932
.683
.920
.406
.781
.792
.741
.420
.433
.631
.865
.427
.796
.814
.614
.738
.775
.547
.367
.792
.481
.778
.906
.669
.793
.877
.863
.767
.767
.620
.719
.766
INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 40, NO. 4, AUGUST 2011
570
Table 4—Meristic counts in different length groups of Liza parsia
Length group
12-14
14-16
16-18
18-20
20-22
22-24
24-26
26-28
28-30
First dorsal
fin spines
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Second dorsal fin
Spines
Rays
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
Discussion
It is universal that growth of fishes or any other
animal increases with the increase in body length.
Thus, it can be said that length and growth are
interrelated. Length weight relationship is expressed
by the cube formula W = aL3 by earlier workers
(Brody14; Lagler15; Brown16). In the present study
the value of ‘b’ of Liza parsia ranged from 3.0094
to 3.1938. Here both length and weight were
positively correlated. A similar case of ‘b’ value
was observed in Mugil cephalus by Luther7. A study
regarding the length-weight relationship of Liza
parsia in relation to industrial pollution gave ‘b’
value range of 2.4986 to 2.5210 by Rao, et al17.
Mortuza and Rahman18 estimated the length weight
relationship of Rhinomugil corsula and was Log
W= -4.914±2.941logL in male and Log W= -5.052±
3.008logL in female. Katselisi et al19 estimated
the length-weight relationship of Liza saliens as
Log W= 0.0079± 3.01logL. Arrudai et al20 calculated
the length-weight relationship of Liza aurata as log
W =-1.938 + 2.929logL and that of Liza ramada was
expressed as: logW = - 1.978 + 2.937 log L. In the
case of Valmugil seheli Moorthy et al21 reported the
‘b’ value as 2.6207 showing an allometric growth
pattern. Kurup and Samuel8 calculated the lengthweight relationship of Liza parsia of Cochin estuary
and found that the ‘b’ value of male is 2.5619 and that
of female is 2.4465 where the regression coefficient
of female is lower than the male. A similar finding is
also obtained in the present study in which the
regression coefficient of female is lower than that
of the male. Babu and Neelakantan9 reported the b
values of male and female as 2.79632 and 2.98863
respectively. All the earlier reports are in compliance
with the present study in which the ‘b’ value was
very close to isometric value of 3 and this indicated
that Liza parsia in the present study showed an
isometric growth. The condition factor obtained in
Pectoral fin
rays
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
Ventral fin
Spines
Rays
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Anal fin
Spines
Rays
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
the present study ranged between 0.0099to1.9652.
In male it varied from 0.7259 to 1.27 and in female
it varied from 0.0099 to 1.9652 and the K value
of female is higher than that of male. Rao et al17
reported that the condition factor of Liza parsia varied
from 0.64 to 1.69.
During the present study, 36 morphometric
characters were taken from species Liza parsia.
Of these characters, base of anal fin and dorsal
fin showed a positive correlation in both sexes.
In the case of female, caudal fin height, pectoral fin
length, second dorsal height and length of peduncle
showed a positive correlation and all the other
characters in both sexes showed a high degree
positive correlation. For instance, Dube and Dubey22
in their study on Indian Mahseer recorded a
simultaneous growth in length of head with increase
in total length of fish. Al-Absy23 while studying
the relationship between the standard length and
21 morphometric measurements in the goat fish
Mulloides flavolineatus recorded a steady increase
in all measurements. It is clear that the spine and
rays of first dorsal fin, second dorsal fin, anal fin,
pectoral and ventral fin of Liza parsia remained
constant in all groups of fishes having different
body length. It means that in this study the meristic
counts are independent of body size and there
is no change in meristic counts in increase in
body length following Talwar and Jhingran24 and
Vladykov25. This corroborates with the studies
in other fishes such as Mahseer sp. by Zafar et al26.
Variations in meristic characters were reported
in many fishes such as Nematalosa nasus by
Al-Hassan27, Pseudobagrus ichikawai by Watanabe28,
and Perophyllum scalare by Bibi et al29.
Thus from the present investigation on length –
weight relationship and condition factor of Liza parsia
indicate that the growth rate is quite satisfactory.
RENJINI & BIJOY: LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP, CONDITION FACTOR AND MORPHOMETRY OF GOLD
Acknowledgements
Authors are thankful to the Head, Department of
Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry,
Cochin University of Science& Technology, Fine
Arts Avenue, Cochin, Kerala, India for the facilities
for undertaking the work.
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