Length-Weight Relationships of ten Cephalopod Species from the Southwestern Bay of Bengal

Chhandaprajnadarsini, E M and Kavitha, M and Rudhramurthy, N and Roul, Subal Kumar and Kizhakudan, Shoba Joe (2025) Length-Weight Relationships of ten Cephalopod Species from the Southwestern Bay of Bengal. Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Science, 41. pp. 1-7. ISSN 2366-1674

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Abstract

With the increasing intensification of fishing efforts, continuous monitoring of the life history traits and biology of exploited species is essential to sustain the fishery resources. Over the years cephalopod fishery has transitioned from bycatch fishery to targeted fishery due to the increase in demand in many parts of the world. This has necessitated studies on their biology to ensure their sustainability. However, information on cephalopod biology and growth is very few compared to fishes. Therefore, the length-weight relationships (LWRs) of ten cephalopod species were estimated from the southwestern Bay of Bengal along the Tamil Nadu coast of India. Specimens were collected from trawl landings at Madras Fishing Harbour (Chennai) and Tuticorin Fishing Harbour (Tuticorin) during 2020–2021. Positive allometry (b > 3) was found only in Amphioctopus marginatus; the other nine species showed negative allometry (b < 3). This paper provides the first estimates of LWRs of Sepia prabahari and Amphioctopus marginatus, and complements the existing global literature on LWR on cephalopods and the SeaLifeBase database. Additionally, new maximum mantle lengths (dorsal mantle length, DML) are reported for Sepioteuthis lessoniana (41 cm), Sepia prabahari (14.6 cm) and Octopus cyanea (26.8 cm). The length-weight parameters for these 10 species of cephalopods will help assess their general well-being and fitness in the ecosystem, as well as form inputs for their stock status assessments for the successful implementation of ecosystem-based fisheries management in this region.

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