Biometric relationships of Mactra violacea (Gmelin) from Kerala, south-west coast of India

Abstract

The length-weight (L-W) and other biometric relationships of the surf clam Mactra violacea, collected from the north coast of Kerala are presented in this study. In M. violacea, the L-W relationship between males and females was not found to be significantly different and therefore a combined equation was derived. The growth in length is accompanied by weight increase (isometric growth, b = 1). However, in all other biometric relationships such as length-width (L - B), length-height (L - H), total weight-meat weight (TW - MW), total weight-shell weight (TW - SW), and shell weight–meat weight (SW - MW)), allometric growth was observed. In the case of L - B, L - H and TW -MW, a positive biometric relationship exists (b > 1) while in TW -SW and SW -MW, a negative biometric relationship (b< 1) was observed.