Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STUDIES ON ,...AMNE EXTERNAL CHARACTERS OF SIX SPECIES OF MULLETS FOUND ALONG RATNAGIRI COAST OF MAHARASHTRA

S.K. Barve*, D.R. JaIiha, M.M. Shirdhankar, A.S. Mohite and S.V. Chavan

Abstract

Mullets are one of the most difficult and confusing groups of fishes owing to their highly variable and overlapping characters. In the taxonomic studies, special emphasis is given to the characters such as Adipose eyelid/membrane, Lips, Maxilla, Preorbital width in relation to distance between two nostrils, Anterior nostril in relation to posterior nostril and groove behind upper lip, Uncovered chin space, Nature of caudal fin, Origin of second dorsal fin in relation to anal fin, and Scales, which do not alter much with growth. Based on this, six species of mullets belonging to five gen- era have been identified.