Morpho Statistical Assessment of Length Weight Correlations (Lwr) and Fulton's Condition Factor of Flying Barb, Esomus Danrica (Hamilton, 1822), from The Neora River Stretch in Lataguri (The Belt of Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary), West Bengal, India, With a Special Focus on Seasonal Analysis
Debarghya Maji
*
Department of Zoology (Doctoral Research Lab), Sikkim Skill University, Namthang Bazar, P.O.- Namthang, Dist.- South Sikkim, Sikkim-737132, India.
Asha Kiran Tudu
*
Fire Proof Spirit Building, Fresh Water Fish Division, Zoological Survey of India, 27 J.L. Nehru Road, (Govt. of India), Kolkata-700016, West Bengal, India.
Shibananda Rath
Fire Proof Spirit Building, Fresh Water Fish Division, Zoological Survey of India, 27 J.L. Nehru Road, (Govt. of India), Kolkata-700016, West Bengal, India.
Md. Rasmanjani Ali
Fire Proof Spirit Building, Fresh Water Fish Division, Zoological Survey of India, 27 J.L. Nehru Road, (Govt. of India), Kolkata-700016, West Bengal, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Length–weight relationship and Fulton’s condition factor are widely used indicators in fisheries science to assess fish growth patterns, health status, and environmental conditions. These parameters help understand population dynamics and ecological status of freshwater fish species. However, seasonal variations in these relationships remain underexplored for many river systems in India, including the Neora River.
Aims: An emphasis on morphometric relationships, this study provides firsthand data on the length-weight relationship (LWR) and condition factor (seasonally) of the Flying barb,Esomus danrica (Hamilton, 1822) (family: Danionidae), from the Neora riverine zone (the Gorumara wildlife sanctuary) in West Bengal, India.
Study Design: Log W = Log a + b Log L was used to establish the length-weight relationship, and K n =100*W/L 3 was the condition factor (Kn). We examined morphometric traits and total length (% of TL) of freshwater fishes from the Neora River (near the Gorumara wls) seasonally in West Bengal, as well as flying barb fish, which are economically important as food and ornamental fish. Place and Duration of Study: Between January 2025 and February 2026, fish samples were taken seasonally (according to IMD) at intervals of 10 to 20 days from a range of the Neora River, freshwater wildlife zones in Lataguri (Dooars) in West Bengal.
Methodology: The relationship between a fish’s body length and total weight is often explained by the length-weight relationship (LWR) equation, which is typically expressed as W = aL b , where W is weight, L is length, and a & b are species-specific constants.
Results: Findings demonstrated that the Danionidae family had negative allometric development (b < 3), meaning that their length increased more quickly than their weight. Seasonally, the correlation coefficient (r) and condition factor (Kn) have values between post-monsoon to winter, i.e., (r=0.966; male, r=0.962; female; Kn =1 male and Kn = 1.003 female),(r=0.987; Male, r=0.968; female; Kn =1.02 male and Kn = 1 female),(r=0.945; male, r=0.973; female; Kn =0.98 male and Kn = 1.01 female) and (r=0.987; male, r=0.993; female; Kn =1.02 male and Kn = 1.19 female).
Conclusion: The Neora River in West Bengal, India, is the subject of fishery research, stock assessment, conservation, and fish condition evaluation.
Keywords: Statistical relationships, Fulton’s growth factor, correlation coefficient, seasonal aspects, morpho-meristic analysis, Neora river, Flying barb.