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Length-weight relationship of Eubleekeria Jonesi (James, 1971) (Family:

Leiognathidae) from Visakhapatnam fishing harbor, East Coast of India

Harini, E.*1, Shameem, U1 and Rushinadha, R.K2

1
Department of Zoology, Andhra University, A.U. P. O., Visakhapatnam - 530 003, Andhra Pradesh,
India
2
ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Ocean-view layout, Pandurangapuram, A.U. P. O.,
Visakhapatnam - 530 003, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to determine the length weight relationships and
condition factor of the Jones‟ pony fish Eubleekeria jonesi collected from the Visakhapatnam fishing
harbour, East Coast of India. The sampling was conducted during the period of March 2017 to April
2018 in a weekly interval. A total of 905 fish were measured for the total length and body weight. The
length-weight relationship (LWR) was estimated using the exponential equation W= aLb, and the
relative weight was calculated to assess the condition factor of the fish samples in the catches of
Visakhapatnam fish landing center. The LWR for pooled samples was W = 0.0000220L2.8686, whereas
in females it was W = 0.00000312L2.6462, and in males W = 0.00000384 L2.9240. The average Fulton‟s
condition factor (K) was estimated to be -1.4051in the case of pooled samples, and 5.7678in females
and -8.4879 in males.

Keywords: LWR, Jones‟ pony fish, Eubleekeria jonesi, Visakhapatnam

Introduction

Ponyfishes are generally known as slipmouths, belong to the family Leiognathidae and
are widely distributed in inshore and estuarine waters of tropical and sub-tropical regions (McFall-
Ngai and Dunlap 1983; Bianchi, 1985). Many of their relative species are small, mostly caught as
bycatch and often used for fish meal production. All the members of the family are characterized by
the presence of a small bacterial organ containing gram-negative bacteria, Photo-bacterium
leiognathi located in the throat region that produces luminance (Paxton and Esch 1998) which may be
used for communication (Sasaki et al. 2003) and provide assistance in predation (McFall-Ngaiand
Dunlap 1983).

Data on Length and Weight relationships is a useful standard tool of fish sampling
programs (Morato et al., 2001). In fish, size is generally more biologically relevant than age, because
several ecological and physiological factors are more size-dependent than age-dependent (Santos et
al., 2002). Consequently, variability in size has important implications for diverse aspects of fisheries
science and population dynamics (Erzini, 1994). Length-weight regressions have been used
frequently to estimate weight from length because direct weight measurements can be time-
consuming in the field (Sinovcic et al., 2004). Information of length-weight relationship is crucial for

546 Received: 8 October Revised: 15 October Accepted: 20 October

Index in Cosmos
November 2018 Volume 8 Number 11
UGC Approved Journal
 International journal of basic and applied research
www.pragatipublication.com
ISSN 2249-3352 (P) 2278-0505 (E)
Cosmos Impact Factor-5.86

fishery biology (Dar et al., 2012) and it is an important tool used in fishery management (Ndiaye et al.,
2015). Consequently, this topic is extensively studied in recent years.

Marine fishery resources are natural resources which are self renewable with a dynamic
habitat. Seafood is always proclaimed to be most nutritious and healthy food as well as being linked
to increasing number of food borne outbreaks across the globe (Rushinadha et al., 2016; Rao et al.,
2016). With the increase in trawl fishing, there has been a considerable increase in the landing of the
by-catch, resulting in a need to improve the utilization of small low-value fish species. The fishing
trawlers bring in large quantities of bycatch, besides the principal fishery groups i.e. fishes, prawns,
squids, cuttle fish and lobster. This bycatch comprises a wide variety of groups which include
juvenile fish of silverbellies, small shrimps, crabs, stomatopods etc. Leiognathidae species,
commonly known as Ponyfishes or slip-mouths, are small bioluminescent, schooling fishes common in
near-shore and estuarine in Indo-Pacific waters and widely distributed in inshore and estuarine
waters of tropical and sub-tropical regions (McFall-Ngai and Dunlap, 1983; Woodland et al., 2001;
Bianchi 1985. The number of such studies is very limited inthe Persian Gulf non-commercial species
(Naderi et al., 2013; Zare et al., 2013), especially no reports are available on LWR or LLR relationships
of Eubleekeria jonesi. The present study provides the first published reference on the length-weight
relationships of Jones‟ pony fish species Eubleekeria jonesi from the Visakhapatnam fishing harbour,
East Coast of India.

Material and Methods

Samples of Eubleekeria jonesi were collected from the commercial trawlers operating in
the catches off Visakhapatnam fish landing center, east coast of India, during the period March 2017
to February 2018. Total length in mm (from tip of snout to the tipof longest ray in the caudal fin) and
weight in grams (nearest to 0.1g) were recorded. The length–weight relationship was calculated by
the least square equation of Le Cren (1951) W = a Lb. Where: W= Body weight (g), L= Total length
(mm); „a‟ is a coefficient related to body and „b‟ is an exponent indicating isometric growth when
equal to 3 (Edwards, 1976; Drapaer and Smith, 1981 and Beverton and Holts, 1996). The same in the
logarithmic form can be written as: Log W= log a +b log L.The value of K was calculated by following
Froese (2006): K = 100 X W/L3. To the author‟s best knowledge, this study presents the first reference
available on WLR for Eubleekeria jonesi in the Coast of Visakhapatnam, South East Coast of India.

Results and Discussion

The LWR estimated separately was found to be W = 0.0000220L2.8686, pooled samples,

W = 0.00000312L2.6462, in females and W = 0.00000384 L2.9240 in males. The length of fish ranged
from 66–120 mm in males, 86 – 118 mm in females and 78 – 112 mm in pooled (figs.1 & 2). The weight
range in males is shown to be 10-18 gm, in females 6.0-22 gm and in pooled 5.0 -22 gm. The
regression coefficient (r2) for pooled samples were noted as 2.8686 in pooled, 2.6462 in females and
2.9240 in males which differs significantly from hypothetical value (3.0), indicating negative
allometric growth. The slopes (b) of the fish L-W regression lines from both fell within 2.8 and 4.1.
Values usually ranged from 2.5 to 4.0 for many fish species. When b = 3, the fish grows isometrically

547 Received: 8 October Revised: 15 October Accepted: 20 October

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 International journal of basic and applied research
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Cosmos Impact Factor-5.86

resulting in ideal shape of fish When the value of b is less than 3.0, the fish experiences a negative
allometric growth. When the value of b is more than 3.0, the fish grows following the positive
allometric pattern (Jobling, 2002). As the values of b increases, the size of the fish also increases
because the fish usually grows proportionately in all directions. However, the changes in fish weight,
in general, are actually greater than the changes in its length. The b value in the LWR of fish can be
used as an indicator of food intake and growth pattern, and may differ according to biotic and abiotic
factors as water temperature, food availability and habitat type (Arslan, 2003). The weight of the fish
is considered as an exponential function to length and their relationship could be expressed by the
cube-law, i.e., weight = a X length.

Figure 1: Length weight relationship for pooled samples Eubleekeria jonesi represented in the
catches of Visakhapatnam, Original data

548 Received: 8 October Revised: 15 October Accepted: 20 October

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November 2018 Volume 8 Number 11
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 International journal of basic and applied research
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ISSN 2249-3352 (P) 2278-0505 (E)
Cosmos Impact Factor-5.86

Figure 2: Length weight relationship pooled samples of Eubleekeria jonesi represented in the
catches of Visakhapatnam, Log transformed data

The “b” values also changes due to changes in physiological growth condition such as
development of gonads or food availability for the respective population (Edwards, 1976; Drapaer
and Smith, 1981; Murthy, 1983; Beverton and Holts, 1996; Jayabalan and Krishnan Bhat, 1997).
Muddula Krishna et al., (2015) have studied different species of pony fishes from Indian waters.
Various workers studied on length weight relationship of different species from different
geographical areas (Batcha and Badrudeen, 1992; Balan, 1963) and recorded a „b‟ value of 2.864 for L.
bindus from Calicut coast of Kerala. Nagarajan (2000) studied three species of pony fishes from waters
of Tuticorin and recorded the „b‟ values to be 3.0717, 3.1245, 3.3032 and 3.0624 respectively.

Froese (2006) reported b values for eight pony fishes and found to be within the expected
range of 2.5-3.5. The LWRs showed a high coefficient determination, indicating the reliability of our
results for the estimation of the length–weight. The information on the LWR of the ponyfishes available
in the Fish Base database (Froese and Pauly 2015) was compared and found new record of maximum
total length (26.5. cm) for Leiognathus daura. The parameters estimated for Photopectoralis bindus
were close to those reported earlier (Letourneur et al. 1998; Deyresani et al. 2015). The b value for
Secutorinterruptus was similar to that of reported (Letourneur et al. 1998). There is a strong
relationship between the weight gain and length gain of the fish, as the coefficient of correlation (r)
was higher than 0.90 for all examined species. In contrast, Mulfizar et al. (2012) and Deyrestani et al.
(2015) found that Pony fish in Kuala Gigieng Water, Aceh Province, Indonesia and in the Persian Gulf,
respectively, displayed a positive allometric growth pattern. However, Djadja and Saadah (2001)
reported that pony fish in Labuan Bay, Banten, Indonesia display isometric growth pattern.

549 Received: 8 October Revised: 15 October Accepted: 20 October

Index in Cosmos
November 2018 Volume 8 Number 11
UGC Approved Journal
 International journal of basic and applied research
www.pragatipublication.com
ISSN 2249-3352 (P) 2278-0505 (E)
Cosmos Impact Factor-5.86

Conclusion
This study provides the information on Length and Weight Relationships (LWRs) of Jones‟
pony fish species Eubleekeria jonesi collected from the Visakhapatnam. The current study outcome
would be helpful for fishery biologists in the Visakhapatnam fishing harbour,east coast of India.

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Corresponding author: harinieathalapaka03@gmail.com

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