Biometric studies on spotted sardinella <em>Amblygaster sirm</em> (Walbaum, 1792) (Pisces: Clupeidae) occurring along Andaman coast, India

Abstract

All the morphometric variables of <em>Amblygaster sirm</em> show significant correlation between them except head length with showed correlation coefficient of less than 0.80 with all other morphometric variables. Liner regression between standard length and other morphometric variables showed R² value of > 0.9 except for HL and BD were the values dropped below 0.75. Pairwise linear regression of log transformed morphometric variables with log-standard length shows negative allometric growth for HL and positive allometric growth for body depth with standard length. Descriptive statistics for morphometric and meristic characters were found to be in agreement with previous work. Spearman rank correlation shows insignificant relation between meristic characters and standard length. L-W relationship for males and females were established as W=0.000007L^3.054 and W=0.000001L^3.370 respectively. Relative condition factor (K_n) for females (mean=) were found to be higher than males (mean=) throughout the year with no major seasonal fluctuation.