Reproduction in Sepia aculeata Van Hasselt, 1835 along the Andhra Pradesh coast, off the western Bay of Bengal

Abstract

Sepia aculeata Van Hasselt, 1835 is a commercially important cuttlefish in Indian seas
with limited studies on its biology from the Indo-Pacific region. This study, observed the
reproductive biology of S. aculeata from samples landed by the trawl fishery operating off
the coast of north Andhra Pradesh, off the western Bay of Bengal. A total of 3511 samples
were studied, of which 2241 were females having dorsal mantle length (DML) ranging from
8.7 to 21.4 cm and weight from 78 to 901 g and 1260 were male specimens of DML ranging
from 7.9 to 21.9 cm and weight from 54 to 738 g. Females dominated the landings with a sex
ratio of 1.78. The length at first maturity was estimated at 14.3 and 12.6 cm DML for females
and males, respectively. Both sexes spawned throughout the year with two significant peaks
from July to October and from December to February with minor intermittent peaks. The
absolute fecundity ranged from 330±1.44 x 102 eggs, with a relative fecundity of 75±8.94 x
102 eggs 100 g-1 body weight. The results of this study may be used as inputs in assessing
the stock of S. aculeata in the study region.

Keywords:
Cephalopods, Needle cuttlefish, Size at first
maturity, Spawning season, Trawl fisheries