GONADOSOMATIC INDEX AND SPAWNING SEASON IN FRESHWATER CATFISH NOTOPTERUS NOTOPTERUS (HAMILTON)
A.N. SHENDGE *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, TULJARAM CHATURCHAND COLLEGE, BARAMATI4I3 102, INDIA.,
U.H. MANE *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, DR. 13.A. MARATHWADA UNIVERSITY, AURANGABAD43I 004, INDIA*.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In the present investigation the gonadosornatic index (GSI) and spawning season of freshwater catfish A’ o! oplerus noloplel-us (Hamilton) from Bhima river. Dist. l’une. Maharashtra were studied. Observations on the variations in seasonal fluctuations ¡n the GSI confirmed that the spawning period begins in .IuI. Ube species has a prolonged spawning season ¡n the fimales extending from July to January. whereas males mature ¡n August ripe specimens were encountered in monthly samples until November, The recruitment pattern conflrmed that there is one breeding season with two spaning peaks: the first in July and the second in December. Breeding season lasted from July to January with August to October being the peak periods. In the present study GSI is found to be directly proportio al to spawning season and inversely proportional to post-spawning season.
Keywords: No!opterz, ís notoprerus, Gonadosomatic index, spawning