Maturity and spawning in Mugil cephalus linnaeus in Goa waters

Abstract

Maturity and spawning of Mugil cephalus Linnaeus were studied from the Goa waters by examination of gonads in fishes collected during the period July 1975 to June 1977. The males of the species were found to mature earlier than females. Six stages of maturity were identified and the season of spawning and the periodicity of spawning were determined by ova diameter measurements and distribution of maturity stages in different months. The gonado somatic index was found to be high from September to February. The spawning season was found to extend from September to February, with a peak during October to December. The sex ratio shows a general preponderance of males. The sex ratio of males to females was found to be 1.77 : 1