Rajaguru: Biology of Cynoglossus arel and C Ma from Indian waters 



353 



Male and female W 

 Juvenile W 



0.0000014 L3-2761 

 0.0000003 L3-6579 



The t -test was employed, and the calculated b value 

 was foimd to differ significantly from the hypothetical 

 B value ( = 3), at 5% level, in male and female C. arel 

 and in adult and juvenile C. lida, whereas juvenile 

 C. arel showed no significant difference: 



C. arel 



C. lida 



Male t = 12.8125 

 Female ( = 11.5385 

 Juvenile t = - 0.6788 



Male & female t 

 Juvenile t 



14.8441 

 2.5470 



Hence it is clear that the cubic formula is not a proper 

 representation of length-weight relationship in male 

 and female C. arel and in adult and juvenile C. lida. 



Reproductive biology 



Seasonal occurrence of maturity stages Female 

 C. arel vdth Stage-I ovaries occurred throughout the 

 year, with a peak in September (Fig. 11). Stage-II 

 ovaries were also present during all months, with 

 higher percentages in April and October. Individuals 

 with Stage-Ill ovaries occurred throughout the year, 

 with higher proportions during March-May and July. 

 Specimens with Stage-IV (mature ovaries) were pres- 

 ent throughout the year, with a peak in November. 

 Stage-V (ripe ovaries) were also noted during all 

 months of the year, but maximum abundance was 

 observed in November and December. Specimens with 

 Stage-VI (oozing ovaries) were collected in all months 

 except April and May. High incidence of oozing ovaries 

 was observed in January and February. This indicates 

 that the spawning occurs for up to 10 months (June- 

 March). Occurrence of Stage-VI specimens, with a peak 

 in January, indicates that the maximum number of in- 

 dividuals may spawTi during January, which is the post- 

 (northeast) monsoon period in Porto Novo. 



In male C. arel (Fig. 12), immature (Stage-I), matur- 

 ing (Stage-II), and mature (Stage-Ill) individuals 

 occurred throughout the year. High percentages of 

 individuals with Stage-I testes occurred in March and 

 October-December. Maturing specimens (Stage II) 

 were abundant from February to September. Occur- 

 rence of mature males (Stage III) showed a peak in 

 January. Occurrence of a higher percentage of fully- 

 mature specimens in January indicated that even 

 though the spawning probably occurred year-round, the 

 majority of individuals might spawn during the post- 

 (northeast) monsoon period (January) in Porto Novo. 



Female C. lida (Fig. 11) with Stage-I (immature) 

 ovaries occurred for 9 months (absent in February, 

 March, and July), with a peak in April. Stage-II (virgin 

 maturing) individuals were present during all months 

 except February and March, with a peak in December. 

 Stage-Ill (maturing) ovaries were present throughout 

 the year, with abundance in January, March, June, 

 November, and December. Stage-IV (mature) speci- 

 mens were present during all months of the year, with 

 higher proportions during February, March, May, and 

 July. Stage-V (ripe) individuals occurred throughout the 

 year, except in December, with maximum abundance 

 in February and September-October. Specimens with 

 Stage-VI (oozing) ovaries were noted for 10 months 

 (absent in January and December), with a peak in 

 September. This indicates that the spawning period 

 lasts for 10 months (February-November), while a 



