Reproductive biology, gonadal histology and feeding ecology of the damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos (Bleeker, 1856) from the south-west coast of India

Rohini Krishna, M V and Anil, M K and Neethu Raj, P (2026) Reproductive biology, gonadal histology and feeding ecology of the damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos (Bleeker, 1856) from the south-west coast of India. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 73 (2). pp. 87-97. ISSN 0970-6011

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Abstract

The present study documents the reproductive biology, gonadal histology, and feeding ecology of the damselfish Neopomacentrus cyanomos (Bleeker, 1856) from the Vizhinjam coast, south-west India. Gonadal development was examined through detailed morphological and histological analyses to characterise gametogenesis and seasonal reproductive patterns. Ovarian development was categorised into five maturity stages, with oocyte diameters ranging from 36.89±8.01 µm in oogonia to 830±21.67 µm in fully mature oocytes, indicating asynchronous oocyte development and prolonged spawning activity. Testicular development also progressed through five distinct stages, from spermatogonia to mature spermatozoa, reflecting continuous spermatogenic activity. Gut content analysis revealed that N. cyanomos is predominantly zooplanktivorous, with copepods forming the major dietary component (41%), followed by ostracods (17%), decapod crustaceans (14%), amphipods (8%) and cirripeds (6%). Seasonal variation in feeding intensity was evident, with peak gastrosomatic index (GaSI) values recorded during July (3.7) and August (3.6), and the lowest values during January (0.74) and June (0.55). These trends coincided with periods of enhanced reproductive activity. This study provides the first comprehensive histological description of gonadal development in N. cyanomos from Indian waters and offers insights into its reproductive strategy and trophic ecology. The findings contribute baseline biological information essential for understanding the reproductive dynamics of pomacentrid fishes and for supporting future ecological assessments and management of coral reef-associated fish populations.

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