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By recording these two new species it is evidence that the biodiversity of Gulf of Mannar is rich and worth investigating according to Dr. R. Santhanam, Dean of this institute. These two newly erected cuttlefish species have been included in the revised FAO species catalogue on Cephalpods of the World.
According to Dr.V.K.Venkataramani, Professor of this institute, these two new species from appreciable fishery at Tuticorin coast and are recorded round the year and contribute to the tone of 40% of the total cuttle fish catch of this area. Further, these two new species were recorded at a depth of 35- 50 meters at Tuticorin coast. Both the species are carnivors, feed more on shrimps, sardines and crab larvae besides molluscs. The maximum length recorded for Sepia prabahari and Sepia ramani was 13 cm and 45 cm respectively at Tuticorin coast. Matured specimens of Sepia ramani and Sepia prabahari was recorded from October to December.
It is also interesting to note that the in cuttlefishes, morphological variations are rare. However, in the presently erected new species, Sepia prabahari, the male and female could be distinguished by length of the arms. Intensive research on the biology and stock assessment of these two new species in now being investigated according to Dr.V.K.Venkataramani, Professor of this institute. With the erection of two more new cuttlefish from Gulf of Mannar by Fisheries College and Research Institute, the total number of cuttlefishes so far recorded from Indian seas has gone up to the 14 from 12.
Though cuttlefish are not used for culinary purposes in India, it forms a sizable fishery and is processed and exported to foreign countries. India exported processed cuttlefish to foreign countries in 2001-2002 to the tune of Rs. 271 cr for 30,620 mt. The Dean of the institute further said that wastes of cuttlefish for viz cuttlebone and viscera are at present not fetching good price hence an awareness has to the created among industrialists related to fisheries sector for commercial use of these waste items. As the newly erected two species contribute to the export market significantly, these biological characteristics such as food habits, growth pattern, age and breeding pattern are being studies intensively by this institute according to Dr. R. Santhanam, Dean, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukkudi
DEAN.
FC&RI, Thoothukkudi.
updated: 10/12/2003
Dr.Baskaran Manimaran ,Assistant Professor ,Department of Fisheries Environment, Fisheries College and Research Institute ,Tuticorin 628008 Tamil Nadu INDIA bas_mani@yahoo.com
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