Morphometric characterization of giant river catfish, Sperata seenghala from river Sutlej, Punjab (India)

The present study was conducted to characterize the stock of giant river catfish Sperata seenghala using morphometric and meristic approach and further different growth parameters and their relationships were calculated to assess the present fishery status and well-being of S. seenghala population from river Sutlej in Punjab (India). The total weight of fish ranged from 140–6730 g, while total length from 33106 cm. In view of meristic characters observed the fin formula for S. seenghala can be expressed as D.1/7 0 P. 1/9, V. 0/8, A.0/10. The Sutlej stock of S. seenghala, revealed a linear pattern of length weight relationship with strong correlation (r =0.94). The regression coefficient ‘b’ (2.56) indicated the negative allometric growth of the fish, tended to be thinner with increasing length. The length-length relationships between total length, standard length and fork length (LLR) indicated strong correlation (r = 0.90–0.99). The Fulton's condition factor (K = 0.544) and relative condition factor (Kn = 1.04) revealed optimum wellbeing of fish indicating suitability of habitat for the species. The data base generated in present study may serve in drafting of suitable management action plan for sustainable production of S. seenghala from river Sutlej.