SOME ASPECTS OF THE BIOLOGY OF THE FAMILY CHARACIDAE IK ZARIA
SOME ASPECTS OF THE BIOLOGY OF THE FAMILY CHARACIDAE IK ZARIA
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Date
1984-10
Authors
CHIKA, EMERE MATTHEW
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Abstract
Some aspects of the biology of the family Characidae in
s studied between the months of March and December,
3. Commercial fish landings in the market were the main
source of the fish samples which were collected once or twice
weekly. Only two genera of the family Characidae were found
in the samples. The genus Hydrocynus (the Tigerfish) was
represented by the species Hydrocynus vittatus Castelnau
while the genus Alestes was made up of two species namely
Alestes nurse Ruppell and Alestes macrolepidotus Cuvier
and Valenciennes.
Alestes nurse was the most abundant species of the
family Characidae in Zaria followed by Alestes macrolepidotus.
The rarest was Hydrocynus vittatus.
The size distribution showed some marked differences
ween the males and females of the same species. The
mean condition factor was determined for the various species
and was found to be high throughout the period of investigation,
The fishes exhibited some diversity in their feeding habits
and also fed on a variety of food items. They were all
pelagic feeders. Hydrocynus vittatus was principally
a piscivore. Alestes macrolepidotus and Alestes nurse were
omnivores feeding principally on plants, insects and detritus
Description
THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FISHERIES
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
NIGER
OCTOBER, 1984
Keywords
ASPECTS,, BIOLOGY,, FAMILY,, CHARACIDAE, IK, ZARIA