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Abstract
Fecundity and gonado-somatic index (GSI) of wild freshwater spiny eel Mastacembelus armatus were estimated from
haor region of Kishoreganj district of Bangladesh. Estimated fecundity ranged from 2,235 to 19,493 for the fish
measuring from 25 to 54 cm and weighing from 79 to 345 g. The minimum, median and maximum ova diameter was
0.20, 1.90 and 2.20 mm, respectively. The average numbers of ova present per g body weight were 45.41±8.85,
46.93±15.00 and 47.52±8.32 while the average numbers of ova present per g ovary were 369.64±40.66,
351.29±30.90 and 328.36±33.00 in the months of April, May and June, respectively. Maximum GSI for female spiny
eel was 14.40±1.48 in the month of June and the minimum GSI for the same sex was 0.44±0.06 in September. The
regression of fecundity on total length, body weight and gonad weight of female spiny eels were Log F = -0.875 +
2.957 × Log TL (r = 0.874), Log F = 0.630 + 1.461 × Log BW (r = 0.917) and Log F = 2.425 + 1.087 × Log GW (r =
0.977), respectively. Fecundity-gonad weight gave a better relationship when compared to fecundity-body weight and
fecundity-total length relationship.