Size related changes in fat content and fatty acid composition of Amblygaster sirm (Spotted sardinella, Hurulla)

Abstract

In the present study the fat content and fatty acid composition in three size classes (<15cm,15-20cm, >20cm) of male and female Amblygaster sirm (Spotted sardinella, Hurulla) wereevaluated. The fat content increased gradually with increasing size of the fish. While both malesand females showed the above increase with size, the fat content of the female (mean value4.15%) was consistently higher than that of the male (mean value 3.6%). Like most other fishunsaturated fatty acids were dominated by two members of the n-3 family, EPA and DHA.

Key words : Fat content, Fatty acids, EPA, DHA, Ambligaster sirm