Reproductive biology of the golden catfish,Horabagrus brachysoma(Günther, 1864), an endemic species of the Western Ghats, India
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Nitta Joseph; K. G. Padmakumar; L. Bindu; P. S. Sreerekha
- Source
- Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 28:772-777
- Subject
- Horabagrus brachysoma
biology
Ecology
Reproductive biology
Ovary (botany)
Seasonal breeder
Zoology
Aquatic Science
Fecundity
biology.organism_classification
Endemism
Male to female
Catfish
- Language
- ISSN
- 0175-8659
Summary To study the reproductive biology of Horabagrus brachysoma (Gunther, 1864), monthly samples were collected from the riverine stretches of Lake Vembanad during 2001–2002. The sexes can be distinguished only during the breeding season; male to female ratio in the exploited catch was 1 : 1.97. The mean LT at first maturity (L50) was 18.5 cm in females and 17.5 cm in males. Absolute fecundity varied between 1100 and 124 000, with a mean of 20 472. The ovary showed group synchronous development and the oocyte diameter varied between 0.13 and 1.63 mm. The relatively high fecundity and hardy nature of H. brachysoma may favour the expansion of this indigenous catfish throughout the culture systems.