Gonadosomatic index and egg diameter variations in the Iranian cichlid, Iranocichla hormuzensis

The reproductive biology of the Iranian cichlid, Iranocichla hormuzensis was investigated for 13 consecutive months in lower Mehran River, from August 2008 through August 2009. Four hundred and eighty six individuals (252 males and 234 females) were captured using a seine net (5mm mesh size). The observed sex ratio was 1:0.93 (Males:Females) (χ², df = 1, P = 0.414). Mean±SD of total length (TL) values in females and males were 62.08 ±6.51 and 70.34±8.16mm, respectively. A gonadosomatic index (GSI) analyses of females indicated that the reproductive period was during February-June, with a peak in March. The absolute fecundity ranged between 48-167 eggs with a Mean±SD of 107 ± 35.2. Egg diameters ranged from 0.58 to 2.93 mm. Fecundity was best correlated with total body mass (M) (linear regression, r2 = 0.6194) condition factor (linear regression, r2 = 0.6149) and total length (TL) (linear regression, r2 = 0.5629).

Biology, Fecundity, Gonadosomatic index, Mehran River, Reproduction