First report on biometric parameters and life-history priors of whitespot sandsmelt Parapercis alboguttata (Gunther, 1872) from North-eastern Arabian Sea

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the sex ratio, biometric characteristics, and life-history traits of Parapercis alboguttata along North-eastern Arabian Sea. Methodology: The statistical analysis of sex ratio, morpho-meristic characteristics, length-weight relationships, condition factors, and life-history features of P. alboguttata were examined for one year from September 2022 to August 2023 for both sexes. Results: The mean sex ratio manifested male dominance (1F:1.29M), which significantly deviated from the 1:1 ratio (χ2=6.891; p<0.05). All the 29 morphometric characteristics subjected to univariate ANOVA showed significant (p<0.001) differences between male and female specimens. Head morphometrics found in the intermediate to environmentally controlled category suggested that these characteristics were inconsistent. Allometric morphometric relationships revealed isometry with TL and allometry with HL for most morphometric parameters. The b value of length-weight relationships of combined sexes depicted significant (p<0.05) deviation from 3 indicating hypoallometric growth (b<3) with absolute fitness of growth model (r2>0.982). Mean relative condition factor was found near unity (≈1) in different month and size groups. Corporeal status based on allometric condition factor proclaimed that the species spawn twice a year from October to December and April to August. Sex ratio in different size groups and size at first sexual maturity (Lm) revealed that P. alboguttata is a protogynous hermaphrodite. Interpretation: The current findings proclaimed that the stock is likely to be overfished due to large removal of mega-spawners.Therefore, the study recommends the optimum harvest size of the species between 15.8 and 19.3 cm, to ensure the sustainability of the whitespot sandsmelt fishery. Key words: Biometric, Hypoallometric, Mega-spawners, Pinguipedidae, Protogynous hermaphrodite