Ovarian Cycle and Spawning Season of Ophiocephalus punctatus, Inhabiting Chapra Waters, Bihar

Abstract

The ovarian cycle and spawning season of Ophiocephalus punctatus from Chapra, BIHAR, a subtropical area, is described. The oocyte shows six well differentiated stages of maturation and the fish has a prolonged spawning season extending from May to August. The spawning tends to be bimodal in character. The stages iii the formation of the yolk nucleus of Balbiani are described and the probable origin of this cytoplasmic inclusion is discussed.