Biology of reproduction in Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) in Hooghly-Matlah Estuary of West Bengal, India

Pama croaker, Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) is one of the commercially important demersal fish of Hooghly-Matlah estuarine system, West Bengal, India. Reproductive biology of 618 samples of O. pama (Hamilton, 1822) collected from the Hooghly-Matlah estuarine system of West Bengal, India for a period of 18 months (November 2016 to April 2018) was investigated. The total length (TL), body weight (BW) and ovary weight (OW) of the samples varied from 100-384 mm, 7.29-470.71 g and 1.5-29.49 g, respectively. The sex distribution was 1 male for 1.07 female and the ratio did not differ statistically. The length at first maturity (L m ) was recorded as 183 mm for males and 196 mm for females. The reproductive activity was found throughout the year with three peak spawning season with high gonadosomatic index (GSI) values, i. e ., during February-March, June and September-November. The absolute fecundity ranged from 4652 to 170688 eggs (24950±32441.2) and relative fecundity ranged from 96 to 808 eggs per g body weight (382±176.83). Fecundity exhibited a relatively higher significant correlation with ovary weight (r = 0.973, p<0.01), compared to total length, total weight and ovary length. Egg diameter frequency showed polymodal distribution, indicating that the species is a batch or asynchronous spawner.  Keywords: Estuarine croaker, Fecundity, Maturity stages, Ova-diameter, Reproductive biology Keywords: Estuarine croaker, Fecundity, Maturity stages, Ova-diameter, Reproductive biology