Authors : KULSANGE B.K. AND MASRAM S.C.
Page Nos : 41-44
Description :
Snakehead Channa punctata (Bloch, 1793) is popular food fish. Reproductive cycle or breeding cycle of
C.punctatahas five phases viz., preparatory phase, early maturing phase, prespawning phase, spawning phase and spent phase. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) reveals the period and duration of different phases in reproductive cycle. GSI is maximum during spawning phase while it is minimum in preparatory phase. Snakehead, C. punctata is annual breeder. Ovary of C. punctata increases its size and shape from preparatory phase to spawning phase and again reduces its size in spent phase. In different phases of reproductive cycle ovary also changes its color. Preparatory phase ovary is whitish which become pinkish during early maturing and prespawning phase due to vascularization of ovary. It become transparent and yellowish due to thining of tunica albuginea and underlying yellowish eggs. Smooth contour of ovary become granular during spawning phase.
Keywords: Channa punctata, Gonadosomatic index.
