SOME BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE FPISH FAMILIES, SCHILBEIDAE AND MALAPTERURIDAE (OSTEICHTHYES : SlLURIFORMES) IN ZARIA AREA
SOME BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE FPISH FAMILIES, SCHILBEIDAE AND MALAPTERURIDAE (OSTEICHTHYES : SlLURIFORMES) IN ZARIA AREA
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Date
1994-06
Authors
OGBE, GARBA FRIDAY
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Abstract
A total of 873 specimens were observed in Zaria.
390 were Schilbe mystus. 366 Eutropius niloticus and
117 Malapterurus electricus. Schilbe mystus was the
most abundant followed by Eutropius niloticus and
the least abundant was Malapterurus electricus.
Pattern of growth in Schilbe mystus was allometric
while both Eutropius niloticus and Malapterurus electricus
were isometric All the species were in good condition
throughout the study. Omnivorous habit was observed in
all the species, In Schilbe mystus the main food item
was fish during the rainy season, in the dry season
they fed slightly more on insects than on fish. Piscivorous
habit was also noticed in Malapterurus electricus while
Eutropius niloticus fed more on insects. The sex ratio
for Schilbe mystus, Eutropius niloticus and Malapterurus
electricus were 1:5 females; 1:2 females and 1:1 females
respectively. The three species bred during the
rainy season. The fecundity of Schilbe mystus was 10,676
while that of Eutropius niloticus was 10, 530 and 2,331
for Maiaptor lrus electricus.
Description
THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FUFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES FACULTY OF SCIENCE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA NIGERIA
Keywords
BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS, FPISH FAMILIES, SCHILBEIDAE, MALAPTERURIDAE (OSTEICHTHYES, SlLURIFORMES), ZARIA AREA