Reproduction biology and feeding habits of the black mouth croaker, Atrobucca nibe (Jordan & Thompson, 1911), from Northwest of the Oman Sea

Reproduction biology and feeding habits of black mouth croaker, Atrobucca nibe, was investigated monthly from September 2013 to August 2014 in the Oman Sea. The specimens were collected by bottom trawl in the Northwest of Oman Sea. A total of 637 fish specimens examined, 284 males and 353 females were sexed. The average sex ratio was F: M= 1.24:1, showing dominance of females over the males. Spawning season of A. nibe was mostly observed in June and October but spawning might be occurred in all year long . The mean absolute fecundity was calculated 97008±55553 eggs, with a moderate linear relationship between absolute fecundity and total length (Fecundity= 10802TL-280712, R2=0.7624). The mean length at first sexual maturity (Lm50 %) was 35 cm for females. A. nibe is an abstemious feeder according to the high vacuity index (VI=86.5±16.8 %). Skinny cheek lanternfish (65%), Japanese threadfin bream (13%) and deep-sea shrimps (11%) were the frequent food items of this species. Results showed that  bony fishes were consumed by all size-classes, skinny cheek lanternfish (42.1%) and Japanese threadfin bream (79.4%) were more pronounced in size-class of 34-38 cm, and also  crustacean were more frequent (29%) in 22-26 cm size classes.