Length weight relationship and relative condition factor study in Sahyadria Chalakkudiensis inhabiting western ghat river systems of South India

Abstract

A trend on unethical and unsustainable use of resources to meet the high demand in the trade of indigenous ornamental fishes is widespread. This increased exploi-tation calls for regulation. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an apex body having a central role in reg-ulating the trade of any living organisms including indigenous ornamental fishes and preventing the species from being left as extinct. To enlist a species in trade by CITES, formulation of baseline data on its biology, population size, length-weight relations, condition factor, and habitat ecology are necessary. This paper looks into one such consideration on Sahyadria chalakkudiensis inhabiting Western Ghat rivers of Kerala. The length-weight relationships in respect of males and females inhabiting Chalakudy river are expressed as LogW =-3.800 + 2.43 LogL and LogW =-4.333 + 2.69 LogL while the same in males and females inhabiting Pooyamkutty river are LogW =-4.545 + 2.76 LogL and LogW =-5.290 + 3.12 LogL respectively .There is a regular seasonal cycle in relative condition factor with a peak in August (Kn=1.33; Chalakudy population) and September (Kn = 1.15; Pooyamkutty population).The results indicated that management of stock of S. chalakkudiensis is very essential to ensure sustainability of its trade.