Length–weight relationship of the endemic velvet leatherjacket, Lalmohania velutina (Hutchins, 1994) inhabiting Gulf of Mannar waters (southeast coast of India)

Abstract

Length&ndash;weight relationship (LWR) of an endemic fish, velvet leatherjacket, <em>Lalmohania velutina</em> (Hutchins, 1994) inhabiting Gulf of Mannar (GoM), southeast coast of India was determined during the present study. A total of 131 individuals (male <em>n</em> = 84; females <em>n</em> = 47) were collected from bycatch of shore seines in GoM and used for establishing LWR of this endemic species. The calculated value for parameter '<em>b' </em>of LWRs were 2.5189, 2.6174 and 2.5614 for male, female and for total individuals (pooled), respectively. Maximum total length (TL) recorded for a female individual (TL_max = 13.4 cm) is the new report of maximum TL in <em>L. velutina</em>. The present study is the first reference on the length-weight relationship and the new maximum length recorded for <em>L. velutina</em>.