Length‐weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for 4 deep water fish species from Visakhapatnam coast, India. Specimens were collected fortnightly between December 2013 and November 2015 from commercial trawls at Visakhapatnam fish landing centre (16.98°N–20.2°N, Long.82.19°–86.53°E). Individuals were captured between 100 and 300 m depth with shrimp trawl net (head rope length: 37–46 m and cod end mesh size: 30–40 mm). Total length (TL) (nearest to 0.1 cm) and body weights (nearest to 0.1 g) were taken each individual. All LWRs were significant with r2 values ranged from 0.958 for Uranoscopus bicinctus Temminkc & Schlegel, 1843 to 0.983 for Uranoscopus chinensis Guichenot, 1882 and “b” values ranged from 2.832 for U. bicinctus to 3. 402 Synodus indicus (Day, 1873).This study provides a new maximum length data for three species (Uranoscopus bicinctus Temminkc & Schlegel, 1843; Uranoscopus chinensis Guichenot, 1882 and Uranoscopus marmoratus Cuvier, 1829).

This study presents the length–weight relationships (LWRs) for 19 scorpionid species from Visakhapatnam coast, India. Samples were collected fortnightly between December 2010 and December 2013 from commercially operated fishing gears viz. gill nets (Hung length: 115–143 m and mesh size: 100–270 mm) operated at 20–30 m depth, shore seines (mesh size: 10–20 mm), trawls (head rope length: 37–46 m and cod end mesh size: 15–32 mm) operated at depth of 20–50 m from a fishing vessel of 9.6–11.1 m length overall (LAO) and hook and lines off Visakhapatnam coast, India (16.98°N–20°.2 N, Long. 82.19°–86.53°E). Most of the collected specimens are from multiday fisheries. A multiday fishing trip is of 6–12 days and an individual fishing vessel undertakes 2–3 such trips in 1 month. Soaking time of gill nets ranged from 4 to 7 hr while each trawl haul lasted for 3–4 hr. The fish specimens were taken to the laboratory in iced condition, where total length (TL), standard length (SL), and wet weight were measured to the nearest centimeter and gram, respectively. The allometric coefficient (b value) for the estimated LWRs ranged from strongly hypoallometric (1.412) in case of Minous inermis to marginally hyperallometric (3.389) for Scorpaenopsis oxycephala. The r2 values ranged from 0.9024 (Pterois russelii) to 0.98 (Snyderinae guentheri). Results provided herein are the baseline information for the species which can be used as an input or priors for subsequent biological investigations on scorpionfishes.

Abstract

Based on twenty two specimens of the Tassled Scorpion Fish, species of Scorpaenopsis oxycephala (Bleeker, 1849) (85-96 mm, TL) collected from the Visakhapatnam coastal waters, east coast of India, we described Scorpaenopsis oxycephala as the new record from Indian Ichthyofauna.This species mainly characterized by having 12 dorsal spines, preopercular with five spines; supraorbital tentacle long; scales present in the space between opercular spines naked; occipital very shallow; pectoral length 26.22 in percentage of standard length; pelvic fin ray length 22.05 in percentage of standard length. In the present study the diagnosis, remarks and a specimen photo are given.

We analysed the length‐weight relations (LWRs) of 10 fish species inhabiting different habitats from Visakhapatnam, Coast of India. Samples were obtained between August 2013 and December 2016 from commercial trawlers at the local fish landing centre (16.98°N–20.20°N, Long.82.19°–86.53°E). Fishes were captured between 100 and 300 m depth with demersal trawl net (head rope length: 46 m and cod end mesh size: 40 mm with a 38 m high speed. Total length (TL; nearest to 0.1 cm) and body weights (nearest to 0.1 g) were taken from each individual. This study provides new maximum length data for two species (Archamia bleekeri (Günther, 1859) and Ostorhinchus fleurieu (Lacepède, 1802), and LWR estimates for rare deep reef associated fishes are provided for the first time. All LWRs were significant with r2 values ranging from .908 for Sargocentron praslin (Lacepède, 1802) to .981 for Parapercis pulchella (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) and “b” values ranged from 2.5216 for Parapercis pulchella (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843) to 3.4746 for Ostorhinchus fleurieu Lacepède, 1802.