Indian Journal of Geo Marine Sciences Vol. 46 (09), September 2017, pp. 1810-1817 Biometric analysis of oil sardine, Sardinella longiceps (Valenciennes, 1847) from Mumbai coast of Maharashtra, India Surendra Kumar Ahirwal1*, A. K. Jaiswar2 & S. K. Chakraborty2 ICAR-Research Complex For Eastern Region1, Division of Livestock & Fisheries Management, ICAR Parisar, P.O.: B. V. College, Patna-800 014, Bihar, India Central Institute of Fisheries Education2, Versova, Andheri (West), Mumbai-400 061, India [E-mail:
[email protected] ] Received 28 May 2015 ; revised 30 October 2016 Measurements of 785 specimens consisting of 378 male and 407 female were recorded during August 2013 to May 2014. The size of males ranged from 107 to 203 mm and weighed between 9.63 to 67.61g, while of females, ranged from 109 to 208 mm in length and 7.98 to 66.45g in weight. Among the compared characters, coefficient of correlation (r) was highest for total length against standard length (0.9597) and lowest for head length against body depth (0.7422). Based on the present investigation on meristic characters, the fin formula can be written as B5-6 D14-18 P12-16 V8-9 A12-16 C20-26. The length-weight relationship was established as W= 0.000001609 L3.3209 for male, W=0 .000001517 L3.3378 for female and W= 0.000001474 L3.3408 for pooled, indicating positive allometric relationship. However, condition factor suggested the species to be in average condition throughout the year in both sexes except the month of May. [Keywords: Sardinella longiceps, morphometric, meristic, length-weight relationship, condition factor, Mumbai, Maharashtra] Introduction terms of growth pattern, maturity and feeding Morphometric measurements and meristic intensity6, 7.