Environment and Interdisciplinary Development

Morphometric Parameters, Feeding and Growth Pattern of the Largehead Hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) in the Coastal Waters of Makkoran (Chabahar and Dashtyari)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Yousef Abdollahi Fard
Seraj Bita

Fisheries Department, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Chabahar Maritime University, Chabahar, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/envj.2025.524637.1504
Abstract
Introduction: The largehead hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) is a commercially important species with a wide distribution across tropical and subtropical marine ecosystems, including the coastal waters of Makkoran. Investigating morphometric parameters, as well as feeding and growth patterns, is essential for effective fisheries management and for understanding dietary shifts from juvenile to adult stages. Furthermore, insights into the biological characteristics of this species within local habitats provide a foundation for the development of sustainable fishery management strategies and the conservation of marine biodiversity. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the biometric traits, growth dynamics, and feeding ecology of T. lepturus to support improved fisheries management in the coastal waters of Makkoran.
Materials and Methods: For this purpose, a total of 120 specimens of T. lepturus were collected seasonally over one year, from autumn 2021 to summer 2022, from three fishing sites along the Makkoran coast in Sistan and Balouchestan Province, namely Chabahar, Beris, and Ramin. The specimens were immediately fixed in 10% formalin and transported to the laboratory. In the lab, biometric parameters, including total length, body weight, and growth pattern, were measured. The digestive tracts were dissected to identify stomach contents for dietary analysis. Additionally, the relative gut length index was calculated by dividing gut length by total body length to assess dietary characteristics
Results: The average total length and body weight of the samples were estimated at 73.53 ± 21.33 cm and 501.72 ± 270.7 g, respectively. The highest and lowest mean values for length and weight were recorded in autumn and summer, respectively, although no significant seasonal differences were observed (p > 0.05). Length and weight distribution analysis indicated that the highest frequency was within the 73–83 cm length class and the 150–250 g weight class. The length-weight regression yielded a b value of 2.293, indicating negative allometric growth. Stomach content analysis revealed a diverse diet composed of digested material, fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Digested material accounted for the highest dietary proportion (58%), while mollusks had the lowest (9%). The relative gut length index varied across length groups and seasons, with the highest value recorded in fish over 107 cm in length. These findings suggest feeding plasticity and a consistent growth pattern in this species.
Discussion: The results indicate that T. lepturus in the coastal waters of Makkoran exhibits negative allometric growth, wherein weight increases at a lower rate than length. This pattern is commonly observed under nutritional, habitat, or physiological constraints. The species' diverse diet, with a substantial portion of digested material and notable contributions from fish and crustaceans, reflects an opportunistic and active feeding strategy consistent with its role as a top predator in the food web. This feeding flexibility plays a crucial role in seasonal adaptability and coping with fluctuating food availability. Furthermore, variations in the relative gut length index with body size and season support potential changes in metabolic requirements and diet composition across growth stages. These findings, combined with the uniform distribution in length and weight, provide useful indicators for monitoring population health and establishing guidelines for size and season-based fishing regulations.

Keywords

Diet Composition
Growth Pattern
Trichiurus lepturus
Makkoran Coast
Subjects
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Environment and Interdisciplinary Development
Volume 11, Issue 91
Spring 2026
Pages 72-86

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