Abstract

In this study, length-weight (LWR), length-length relationships (LLR) and condition factor (K) of male Oreochromis mossambicus from Nursery Unit Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan were examined. The range of the total length (TL) was determined to be 13.20 to 18.10 cm. This study shows that b-value in the LWR (W = aL^b) for male O.mossambicus had isometric growth with b = 2.93. Morphometric characters, that is, standard length (SL), head length (HL), head width (HW), pectoral fin length (PtFL), pelvic fin length (PvFL), anal fin base (AFB) and caudal fin length (CFL) indicated high significance (P < 0.001), while dorsal fin length (DFL) indicated least significance (P < 0.05) correlation with increasing size. The condition factor (K) forO. mossambicus ranged between 1.68 and 2.20 and remained constant for total length and body weight.

Key words: Length-weight, length-length, condition factor, Oreochromis mossambicus.

Abbreviation

LWR, Length-weight; LLR, length-length relationship; K, condition factor; TL, total length; SL, standard length; HL, head length; HW, head width; PtFL,pectoral fin length; PvFL, pelvic fin length; AFB, anal fin base; CFL, caudal fin length;DFL, dorsal fin length.