European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

THE CONDITION FACTOR, LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP AND RELATIVE CONDITION OF LABEO DUSSUMIERI (VALENCIENNES, 1942) FROM MEENACHIL RIVER, KOTTAYAM, KERALA

K. S. Anila Kumary* and Pooja Monsy

ABSTRACT

The paper provides information on the length-weight relationship, condition factor and relative condition of Labeo dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1942) belonging to different size classes from the lower reaches of Meenachil river. The total length of the fishes analyzed ranged from15.6 cm to 32 cm and the total weight ranged from 92 g to 400 g. From a sample size of 300 specimens collected during a period of six months (November 2014 and April 2015) K value was 1.29 and the exponential equation was W=0.000388 L3.061 indicating an isometric growth pattern. The slope value was lower than the critical isometric value of 3 exhibiting negative allometric growth in smaller length groups (< 25 cm). The relative condition factor of all specimens analyzed were greater than 1 indicating that the fish is in good growth condition. The study revealed that Labeo dussumieri in Meenachil River is in a stable environment and the medium sized fishes dominate the population

Keywords: Length-weight relationship, Condition factor, Relative condition factor, Labeo dussumieri