Drepane punctata

Abstract: While studying certain anatomical differences between the two species of the genus Drepane namely Drepane punctata (Linn.) and Drepane longimana (Bloch & Schneider) some thickened bones popularly called ' stones' were noticed by the author in D. punctata. Cantor (1849) stated that in the largest specimen (V5"= 433 mm.) of D. punctata examined by him the rounded protuberance of the skull between the eyes is very large and prominent and the roots of the four central caudal rays are enlarged and joined together without any intermediate membrane, and Delsman (1925) made a mention of the inflation of frontals, supraoccipitals and lacrymals in D. punctata. Besides these, the present observations in D. punctata revealed certain other bones showing hyperostosis the occurrence of which has not hitherto been reported. Results of a detailed study of the nature and occurrence of such bones are given in this paper.

Abstract: 2 Abstract: Finfish biodiversity was studied in Karaikkal coast for a period of one year from January to December 2003. A total of 196 species belonging to 18 orders, 87 families and 134 genera were recorded. Of these 196 species,, Stolephorus indicus, Thryssa malabarica, T. purava, Chirocentrus dorab, Arius arius, Plotosus canius, Mugil cephalus, Hemiramphus far, Platycephalus indicus, Epinephelus tauvina, E. malabarica , Sillago sihama, Caranx sem, Scomberoides tol, Lutjanus fulviflamma, Gerres abbreviatus, Upeneus sulphureus, Drepane punctata, Terapon puta, Trichiurus lepturus, Pampus argenteus, P. chinensis , Cynoglossus arel, Triacanthus biacculeatus were found to be abundant throughout the study period. Cypselurus spilopterus and Exocoetus volitans were recorded only during late May to early July and absent in rest of year. From the present study it was found that the Karaikkal coast has rich finfish diversity.

Abstract: Length weight relationships (LWRs) and form factor of 8 marine fishes were assessed from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh through sampling from November 2019 to October 2020 with gill net (mesh size, 3-6 cm). Body weight was weighed with 0.01 g precision and total length was measured nearest to 0.1 cm. Our study provided LWR of Scomberomorus koreanus for the first time. LWR of Drepane punctata, D. longimana, Scatophagus argus and Ephippus orbis were documented for the first instance from the Bay of Bengal. Values of b for LWR ranged from 2.574 (Thryssa setirostris) to 3.380 (Drepane longimana) with r2 ≥ 0.948 as well as form factor ranged from 0.0062 (S. koreanus) to 0.0313 (Drepane punctata). Findings of our study will be helpful for sustainable management of these eight marine fish species in the Bay of Bengal.

Abstract: The complete mitochondrial genome of the Drepane punctata was presented in our study. The mitochondrial genome is 16,397 bp long and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 16 tRNA genes and a control region. The gene order and composition of D. punctata mitochondrial genome was different from that of most other vertebrates. The nucleotide compositions of the light strand are 24.56% of A, 16.02% of C, 27.81% of T and 31.61% of G. With the exception of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (ND6) and five tRNA genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand.