Abstract
Morphometric and meristic characters of Leiognathus splendens off Ratnagiri coast have been studied and the relationships of morphometric characters with standard length were established. The fishes ranged between 6.1 to 12.5 cm. in Total length (TL.) The morphometric equations for the samples collected along the Ratnagiri coast were FL = 0.4479 + 0.8354 TL, SL = 0.148767 + 0.765447 TL, UO = 0.2709 + 0.0579 TL, UG’= -0.0538 + 0.2562 TL, OO’= 0.2041 + 0.0767 TL, Eg = 0.1642 + 0.0337 TL, DD= 0.4677 + 0.4103 TL, Ph= 0.1559 + 0.1622 TL, Vh= 0.2566 + 0.0828 TL, AA = 0.2566 + 0.0828 TL, UD = 0.1082 + 0.3757 TL, UPh = -0. 0456 + 0.2691 TL, UVh = 0.0179 + 0.2976 TL, UA = -0.3444 + 0.4626 TL, h = 0.3595 + 0.3958TL, Ch = 0.6506 + 0.1656 TL, Dh = 0.1469 + 0.1600 TL, Ah= 0.4778 + 0.1015TL. In the present study the various morphometric ratios of the fishes were studied and ratios are observed such as, The Fork length is 113.68-120 times in standard length, Snout length 11.5713.33 times in standard length, Orbital diameter 10.52-11.11 times in standard length, Gretest pupil diameter is 6.31-8.88 in standard length, Head length is 34.0-37.77 in standard length, Dorsal fin base 57.89-62 in standard length, Ventral fin length is 13.33 -14.73 times in standard length, Anal fin base is 47.36-48.88 times in standard length, Pre dorsal length is 42.10-44.44 times in standard length, Pre pelvic length is 37.77-40 times in standard length, Pre anal length is 46.66-54.73 times in standard length, Pre pectoral length is 35.55-35.78 times in standard length, Dorsal height is 22.10-24.44 times in standard length, Anal height is 21.05-22.22 times in standard length, Body depth is 55.55-56.84 times in standard length, Pectoral fin length is 26.3126.66 times in standard length and Caudal fin length is 31.57-33.33 times in standard length. The meristic characters such as number of dorsal fin spine varied from 8,16 Anal fin vary from 3, 14. gill rakers are of lower limb 18 to 24, and upper limb 5 to 7 in numbers. Pyloric cacae is measured about 30 to 40 in numbers, ribs are 7 in numbers, scales on the lateral line is 45-65 in numbers, vertebrae 10+14=24 in numbers.