Research Article: Reproduction biology and feeding habits of the black mouth croaker, Atrobucca nibe (Jordan & Thompson, ۱۹۱۱), from Northwest of the Oman Sea

Reproduction biology and feeding habits of black mouth croaker, Atrobucca nibe, was investigated monthly from September ۲۰۱۳ to August ۲۰۱۴ in the Oman Sea. The specimens were collected by bottom trawl in the Northwest of Oman Sea. A total of ۶۳۷ fish specimens examined, ۲۸۴ males and ۳۵۳ females were sexed. The average sex ratio was F: M= ۱.۲۴:۱, showing dominance of females over the males. Spawning season of A. nibe was mostly observed in June and October but spawning might be occurred in all year long . The mean absolute fecundity was calculated ۹۷۰۰۸±۵۵۵۵۳ eggs, with a moderate linear relationship between absolute fecundity and total length (Fecundity= ۱۰۸۰۲TL-۲۸۰۷۱۲, R۲=۰.۷۶۲۴). The mean length at first sexual maturity (Lm۵۰ %) was ۳۵ cm for females. A. nibe is an abstemious feeder according to the high vacuity index (VI=۸۶.۵±۱۶.۸ %). Skinny cheek lanternfish (۶۵%), Japanese threadfin bream (۱۳%) and deep-sea shrimps (۱۱%) were the frequent food items of this species. Results showed that  bony fishes were consumed by all size-classes, skinny cheek lanternfish (۴۲.۱%) and Japanese threadfin bream (۷۹.۴%) were more pronounced in size-class of ۳۴-۳۸ cm, and also  crustacean were more frequent (۲۹%) in ۲۲-۲۶ cm size classes.

Keywords:

Atrobucca nibe , Reproduction , Feeding habits , Lanternfish , Oman Sea