REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF SILVERBELLY LEIOGNATHUS SPLENDENS (CUVIER) AT PORTO NOVO

Taken as a whole, Leiognathus splendens spawns throughout the year along the Porto Novo coast with two peaks, during October-December|January and during April-May. Individual fish appears to spawn twice a year for a short duration. High gonado-somatic indices correspond well with the peak spawning months, and females always have higher values. The Relative condition factor does not indicate any relation with the reproductive cycle. Females mature between 76 mm and 111 mm total length whereas males mature, between 81 mm and 111 mm. Sex ratio shows general preponderance of males and chi-square test indicates significant difference between years. Fecundity, varying between 7099 and 21,507, appears to increase with length of fish.