LARVAE OF THE INDIAN MACKEREL, RASTRELLIGER KANAGURTA (CUVIER) FROM THE WEST COAST OF INDIA

Abstract

Larvae of the Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier) have been
identified by the author from the plankton of the south west coast of India and
the Laccadive Sea collected during the cruises of R. V. VARUNA. Prolarval
and postiarval sta-ges from the size 1.73 mm to 8.6 mm (T.L.) are described
from the graded series present in the collections to highlight the salient features
during the larval develc^ment. This account also represents the first descriptions
with illustrations of the mackerel larvae from the west coast of India.
The distribution of the larvae, their occurrence in day and night vertical
tovra made with tlae Indian Ocean Standard Net, the relative abundance of larvae
in the continental shelf and oceanic waters, their abundance latitude-wise, the
size-wise frequency of occurrence of larvae and the Temperature-Salinity, Temperature-
Dissolved Oxygen, Saliruty-Dissolved Oxygen relationship to the occurrence
of the larva; from 38 out of 92 stations in the month of May 1964 are
also discussed.