Condition and length-weight relationship of the horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus L.) and the Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus L.) from the eastern Adriatic Sea

Abstract

The length-weight relationship and variation of condition factor in relation to the total length (TL) of Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Trachurus mediterraneus (Steindachner, 1868) were studied. Samples were collected in the eastern Adriatic Sea using bottom-trawl during 2008 and 2009. The b values for males, females and total sample showed that the growth of T. trachurus was isometric, i.e. equal in length and weight. The growth of the males and females of T. mediterraneus was positively allometric while the total sample (males, female and immature) showed isometric growth. The condition factor was calculated indicating the smallest values in immature specimens. The highest values of condition factor for males and females of both species were observed in the range of TL from 16 to 19 cm and 31 to 33 cm, respectively.