Length-Weight Relationships, Condition Factor and Morphometric Characteristics of Schizothoracinae from Neelum and Jhelum Rivers of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
Length-Weight Relationships, Condition Factor and Morphometric Characteristics of Schizothoracinae from Neelum and Jhelum Rivers of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan
Tasleem Akhtar1, 2, Ghazanfar Ali1,* and Nuzhat Shafi2
ABSTRACT
The morphometrics, length-weight relationships and condition factor are presented for commercially important Schizothoracinae from Neelum and Jhelum rivers during 2015-2016. In the present study, four species of Schizothorax had been found, in which three species were already reported (S. esocinus, S. plagiostomus and S. progastus) and one new species (S. niger) was found first time in AJK. One hundred and fifty-nine specimens of S. plagiostomus, 74 specimens of S. esocinus, 21 specimens of S. progastus and 8 specimens of S. niger were taken for the study. The maximum snout length, eye diameter, length of lateral line, head length, dead depth and pre anal length were observed in S. niger followed by S. esocinus and two other species. Overall value of “b’ fluctuated from 1.183 to 2.711 which did not follow the cube law (b=3) and indicated the negative allometric (b<3) growth pattern. Studies on condition factor (K) of Schizothorax species revealed the lowest values. High pollution load and environmental stress on these species seems to be very high and not led to the ideal growth pattern. It is concluded that, the fish is under the physiological stress and it is very essential for fishery managers to impose adequate regulations for sustainable fishery management and conservation in this state of Pakistan, in which most of population depend upon fish resources. No information regarding LWRs and morphometric measurements of S. progastus and S. niger was available in Fish Base.
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February 2021
Vol. 53, Iss. 1, Pages 1-400
