Reproductive biology of Leiognathus splendens (Cuvier) from Kochi, south-west coast of India

The reproductive biology of Leiognathus splendens (N = 2112) was studied using the samples collected from the Kerala coast during 1998 - 2000. A separate scale of five stages of maturation has been developed for the first time for any Indian marine fish and applied in the present study. Analysis of data on the ova diameter in different length groups showed that spawning takes place in batches at regular intervals after the juveniles undergo the process of maturation and reach ripe stage. Spawning takes place almost round the year. The length at first maturity was 75 mm. The estimated fecundity ranges from 5715 (88 mm TL) to 37160 (106 mm TL)