Population structure, length-weight and length-length relationships of six populations of the Bartail Flathead Platycephalus indicus (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) along the Persian Gulf coastal waters

Abstract

The size frequency distribution for age structure, length-weight (LWR) and length-length (LLR) relationships of six populations of Platycephalus indicus along the Persian Gulf coastal waters in Iran are reported. A total of 180 P. indicus specimens were studied from six localities including Charak, Bandar-Abbas, Shif, Motaf, Khur-Musa and Bahrekan. The maximum standard length recorded for the studied populations ranged between 300 to 510 mm and the b values of the length-weight relationships ranged between 3.0 and 3.2. The obtained results indicated isometric growth patterns for all these populations with the exception of the Bahrekan population which showed a positive allometric growth pattern. The LLR between the total and standard lengths in these populations were found to be highly significant. The results would be useful for further studies on population assessment and sustainable conservation of the fish along the Persian Gulf coastal waters.

Keywords

• Bushehr Province
• flathead fish
• growth patterns
• Iran.