Field identification of batoids – a guide to Indian species

Kizhakudan, Shoba Joe and Akhilesh, K V and Thomas, Sujitha and Yousuf, K S S M and Sobhana, K S and Purushottama, G B and Muktha, M and Dash, Swatipriyanka Sen and Manojkumar, P P and Nair, Rekha J and Najmudeen, T M and Zacharia, P U (2018) Field identification of batoids – a guide to Indian species. CMFRI Special Publication (132). ICAR - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi.

Text CMFRI Special Publication No.132_BATOIDS.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (41MB)

Abstract

India is one of the major elasmobranch fishing nations in the world. With growing concern over issues of conservation and management of elasmobranch resources in Indian waters, particularly of those species that are vulnerable to over-exploitation there is a need to strengthen reporting of species-wise catch and trade data. Proper identification of elasmobranch species poses many challenges to researchers, stakeholders and policy implementing agencies since there are a lot of taxonomic ambiguities with a high degree of overlap of several identifying characters, added to the fact that these resources lack external meristic characters that can easily help with their identification. Species-wise catch estimates are important in assessing status of fisheries stocks and knowledge of prominent characters that can aid easy and almost accurate identification of a specimen in the field. This assumes much importance in light of the fact that ICAR-CMFRI’s catch monitoring surveys are carried out at fish landing centres where the catches are disposed of at great speed, affording very little time for detailed examination of specimens.

Actions (login required)

View Item