ISSN 2348-313X (Print) International Journal of Life Sciences Research ISSN 2348-3148 (online) Vol. 6, Issue 4, pp: (327-336), Month: October - December 2018, Available at: www.researchpublish.com Page | 327 Research Publish Journals REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY AND ITS PERIODIC VARIATION OF ENDANGERED MUD EEL Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton) FROM MEGHALAYA, INDIA BARISHA MARY KURBAH 1 , RABINDRA NATH BHUYAN 2 1 Assam Don Bosco University, Tapesia campus, Tapesia Gardens, Kamarkuchi, Sonapur- 782402 Assam, India 2 Department of Fishery Science, St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, Meghalaya, India 2 Corresponding author email: rnbhuyan60@gmail.com Abstract: Reproductive biology of an endangered freshwater, air breathing mud eel, Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton) was analyzed to identify its peak breeding season. The samples were collected from January 2016-February 2018. In males, highest GSI value of 3.4±0.8 was observed during the month of May and lowest value of 0.02±0.1 was observed during the month of September. Similarly in case of females, highest GSI value of 7.33±0.081 was observed during the month of May and the lowest GSI value of 0.27±0.089 was observed during the month of September. Thus this indicates the maturity of the species which corresponding to the breeding period. Monthly variation in the fecundity of female M. cuchia was also calculated and found out that the fecundity of female M. cuchia was highest during the month of May with a peak value of 924 eggs (length= 78cm, weight= 344 gms) and lowest during the month of September with a value of 150 eggs (length= 70cm, weight= 365 gms). Ova diameter was analyzed during breeding season and observed to vary from 0.0 to 4.0 mm during September to May. However, this analysis implies that highest GSI value in May is indicative of the fact that M. cuchia may have peak breeding season in May. Keywords: Fecundity, Gonado-somatic Index, M. cuchia, Ova diameter, Reproductive biology. I. INTRODUCTION Mud Eel, Monopterus cuchia) is a fresh water fish belonging to Synbranchidae family of the order Synbranchiformes. It is a highly nutritious food fish with therapeutic value and it also has a high market demand in the North-Eastern states of India including Meghalaya. M. cuchia is locally known as Khabseiñ in Khasi language (Meghalaya) and considered as highly palatable and nutritious fish as well as a valued remedy in oriental medicine. The fish can be cultured in backyard tank but non- availability of seed is a hindrance in culture. Hence, artificial propagation is important for smooth supply of seed to the fishers. Nevertheless it is important to know the duration of reproductive season and its peak breeding period. Analysis of reproductive biology in fishes is an important parameter in fish biology since it has its practical importance in solving fishery management questions such as the determination of spawning stock. The availability data based on reproductive parameters and environmental variation lead to a better understanding of observed fluctuation in reproductive output and enhances our ability to estimate recruitment (Kraus et al., 2002). Studies on the reproductive biology of any fish is essential for evaluating the commercial potentialities of its stock, life history, cultural practice and actual management of indigenous fishes (Lagler, 1956) (Doha and Hye, 1970). Reproductive strategies depend on the abiotic environment, food availability, pressure of predators and the habitat of parental fish (Wootton, 1990). The study of fecundity is useful in the estimation of population and productivity (Agbugui, 2013.