SOME BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE FPISH FAMILIES, SCHILBEIDAE AND MALAPTERURIDAE (OSTEICHTHYES : SlLURIFORMES) IN ZARIA AREA

No Thumbnail Available
Date
1994-06
Authors
OGBE, GARBA FRIDAY
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
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
Citation
Collections