MBAI Memoir No. 3: Goat fishes (Family Mullidae) of the Indian seas

Thomas, P A (1969) MBAI Memoir No. 3: Goat fishes (Family Mullidae) of the Indian seas. Other. Marine Biological Association of India, Cochin.

Preview

PDF Combined_Article_4.pdf Download (4MB)

Abstract

THE goatfishes or red mullets of the family Mullidae, though constitute one of the groups of the food fishes of India of considerable regional importance, have drawn very little attention from fishery scientists. Apart from the systematic account of Day (1878) and few other works on the food of some of the species, the group remained practically a virgin field to study. Day himself expressed doubts about the validity of some of the species described by him and remarked on the need for a detailed study of the family. It is needless to emphasize, in a group like Mullidae, biological information including observations on the life history, habits and life colouration of the species are quite important to the taxonomic understanding of the family. In view of this, a comprehensive study of the group was taken up in 1963, at the suggestion of Dr. S. Jones, Director, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mandapam Camp. The present work, which is based on my thesis approved for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology of the University of Rajasthan, covers the taxonomy and osteology of species of Mullidae, biology of U. tragula, the common species in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar and aspects of fishery.

Actions (login required)

View Item