Length-Weight and Length-Length Relationships and Fulton Condition Factor of Philippine Mullets (Family Mugilidae: Teleostei)

Abstract

The present study describes the length-weight (LW), length-length (LL) relationships and Fulton condition factor (K) for 10 mullets
collected from 14 sampling sites in the Philippines. Comparisons of LW, LL, and K are confined to five mullet species with sample size between 11 and 438. The other five mullet species are excluded in the comparison due to the limited sample size (n = 3 - 6). Among these mullets Liza sp. from Ilocos Sur is the longest at 21 cm and the heaviest at 89 g. It is followed by the bluespot mullet
Crenimugil seheli with a mean total length of 18 cm and a mean weight of 72 g. The greenback mullet Chelon subviridis (Negros
Oriental) ranked third in mean total length at 17 cm and a mean weight of 62 g. The shortest (12 cm) and lightest (19 g) is the dwarf mullet Osteomugil engeli. The relationships between total length (TL) and weight (W) for the 10 mullets show high coefficients of determination (r 2 = 0.88 - 0.98). All mullet species show negative allometric growth as indicated by the regression coefficient b < 3. The relationships among TL, FL, and SL for Philippine mullets are all linear (r2 > 0.96). The average Fulton condition factor is highest for the longfinned mullet Osteomugil perusii (2.12) and lowest for the dwarf mullet Osteomugil engeli (1.71). The results of this study are important for the management and conservation of mullet species in the Philippines.