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Systematics and biology of the blue lanternfish, Diaphus coeruleus from the south-eastern Arabian Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2018

K. M. Meera ,
M. Hashim ,
V. N. Sanjeevan ,
J. Jayasankar ,
T. V. Ambrose  and
M. Sudhakar
K. M. Meera*
Affiliation:
Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kendriya Bhavan, CEPZ PO, Kochi-682030, India
M. Hashim
Affiliation:
Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kendriya Bhavan, CEPZ PO, Kochi-682030, India
V. N. Sanjeevan
Affiliation:
Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kendriya Bhavan, CEPZ PO, Kochi-682030, India
J. Jayasankar
Affiliation:
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Post Box No. 1603, North P.O, Kochi-682018, India
T. V. Ambrose
Affiliation:
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Post Box No. 1603, North P.O, Kochi-682018, India
M. Sudhakar
Affiliation:
Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kendriya Bhavan, CEPZ PO, Kochi-682030, India
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: K. M. Meera Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kendriya Bhavan, CEPZ PO, Kochi-682030, India email: meera.mohandask@gmail.com
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Abstract

The paper presents the first detailed study on systematics, otolith structure and biology of Diaphus coeruleus, from the south-eastern Arabian Sea. The closely related and co-inhabiting species D. coeruleus and D. watasei are distinguished on the basis of morphometric, meristic and otolith characters. Analysis of gut content revealed that these fishes mainly feed on deep sea squids and shrimps. Six maturation stages of gonads are identified in males (immature, quiescent, mature, ripe, spawning and spent) and five stages (immature, quiescent, mature, ripening and spawning stages) in females. Overall sex ratio deviated in favour of males (1 male: 0.2 female) and the mean fecundity was 2150 ± 353 eggs. The length-weight relationship shows an overall isometric growth in males with N = 76 and b = 3.13 and for females with N = 17 and suggests negative allometric growth (b = 1.719). Otolith length (LO) and otolith weight (WO) are positively correlated to standard body length (LS) and body weight (BW).

Keywords

Length–weightotolithmesopelagic fishesmyctophidsDiaphus coeruleussouth-eastern Arabian Sea
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 99 , Issue 1 , February 2019 , pp. 239 - 248
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2018 

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