Comparative length-weight relationship of two species of catfishes, <i>Arius caelatus </i>(Valenciennes, 1840) and <i>Arius tenuispinis </i>(Day, 1877) from Mumbai waters⁺

Abstract

Based on the length weight data collected from New Ferry Wharf (NFW), Sasoon Docks (S.D) & Versova landing centres, the length-weight relationship for two important catfishes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Arius caelatus</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A. tenuispinis</i> from Mumbai waters has been reported in the present communication. There is no significant difference in growth between sexes for both the species, based on the ANACOVA test. Length-weight relationship derived were W = 0.00419 * L ^3.263 (R^{<span style="mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;letter-spacing:-.3pt" lang="EN-GB">2</span>}= 0.899) and W = 0.0306 * L ^2.720 (R² = 0.953), for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A. caelatus</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A. tenuispinis</i> respectively. Growth pattern study showed isometric growth for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A. caelatus</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A. tenuispinis.</i>