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
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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
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