Some biological aspects of Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi in Shadegan Wetland, Iran

Some biological aspects of Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi were studied in Shadegan Wetland, Iran. Monthly samples were collected from five stations: Doragh, Rogabe, Khorosy, Salmane and Atish. A total of 437 specimens were measured from April 2013 to March 2014. Mean (±SD) (Range) length values for the male and female were calculated as 252±28 (95-357), 249±38 (115-374)mm respectively and mean (±SD) (Range) weight values were 218±31 (18-366),239±39(15-651)g respectively. The length-weight relationships were calculated as W=0.000006L3.11 (R2=0.85) for male, W=0.000005L3.14 (R2= 0.86) for female. The spawning occurred from April to July, and length at maturity (LM), weight at maturity (WM) and production per biomass (P/B) were calculated for male and female as LM=208, 220 mm WM=97, 133 g and P/B= 0.53, 0.50 per year, respectively. *Corresponding author.