Nutritional evaluation of elongate mudskipper Pseudapocryptes elongatus (Cuvier, 1816) from Diamond Harbor, West Bengal, India.

The mudskipper Pseudapocryptes elongatus (Cuvier, 1816), (Gobiidae) are caught throughout the year and they are considered as most edible mudskipper species in Sundarbans. They are targeted by special gears and sold live in large quantities in the local markets of Diamond Harbor, Namkhana and Kakdweep. The adult P. elongatus (14-18 cm total length) specimens were purchased from the Diamond Harbor landing center for evaluation of its biochemical components such as Protein, carbohydrate, lipid, amino acid, fatty acid, vitamin, and minerals. The percentage composition of protein was high (27.34%) followed by the carbohydrate (4.57%) and lipid (2.72%). The amino acids both essential (47.72%) and non-essential (42.91%) was found adequate. Among fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was found the maximum (31.55%) followed by saturated fatty acid (SFA; 27.66%) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA; 19.55%). Vitamin A (112.5 IU/100 g) and Ca2+ (62.2 mg/100 g) were found maximum levels. The present finding supports that P. elongatus is valuable for human consumption due to its high-quality protein with well-balanced amino acids.