Food and Feeding Habits of African Carp (Labeo Senegalensis, Valenciennes 1842) in River Rima, North-Western Nigeria
PDF

Keywords

Labeo Senegalensis
food feeding habits
herbivorous detritivore
River Rima

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the food and feeding habits of African carp (Labeo senegalensis, Valenciennes, 1842) in River Rima Sokoto, Nigeria. A total number of 122 samples were collected between June and December 2012 from the fishermen of the Kwalkwalawa fish landing site of River Rima. The food materials of the species were analyzed by the frequency of occurrence method. The structural feeding adaptations of the species were assessed to further confirm the feeding habits of L. senegalensis. The total length of the samples ranged from 17.80 to 30.10cm with a
mean of 25.88±3.279SD and the total weight ranged from 48.20 to 270g with a mean of 155.62±57.678SD. Gut length ranged from 111.00 to 240.00cm with a mean of 144.114±27.43SD. The stomach content analysis showed that the species was an herbivorous detritivore, feeding mainly on plant materials such as Lymnaea, Potamonautes, worms, and algae. Observations on the feeding structures such as the presence of inferior mouth, toothless jaws, palatal and pharyngeal teeth, fine gill rakers, small stomach and long coiled intestine of about six times the total body length
further confirmed the aforementioned feeding habits of L. Senegalensis in River Rima, North-Western Nigeria.

PDF

References

Abobi, S.M., Alhassan E.H. and Asare, I.O. (2015). Analysis of the fecundity and gonadal stages of African carp, Labeo senegalensis (Valenciennes, 1842) from the WhiteVolta, Ghana.Elixir Appl. Zoology,79:30438-30443.

Adadu, M.O., Omeji, S. and Oyeniyi, M.E. (2014). Food and feeding habits and condition Factor of Labeo coubie (African Carp) in Lower River Benue. Journal of Global Biosciences, 3(6): 890-894.

Adeyemi, S.O. and Akombo, P.M. (2012). Diet and dietary habits of Labeo senegalensis in a tropical freshwater ecosystem. Animal Research International, 9(1): 57-62.

Ayinla, O.A. and Faturoti, E.O. (1990). The food and feeding habits of African mud catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) caught from the wild. Journal of West African Fisheries, 4: 249–255.

Ayoade, A. (2011). Length-weight relationship and diet of African Carp, Labeo ogunensis (Boulenger, 1910) in Asejire Lake, South western Nigeria. Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 6(4): 472-478.

Ayotunde, E. O., Stephen, N.O. and Irom, B.O. (2007). Parasitological examinations and food composition in the gut of feral African Carp, Labeo coubie in the Cross River, Southern Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology, 6(5): 625-630.

Balogun, J. K. (1987). Studies on some aspect of the biology of Pellonula afzeliusi (Johnels) in Epe Lagoon, Nigeria. Arc. Hydrobiol. 239(1): 1-14.

Balogun, J. K. (2000). Food and feeding habits of Nile perch (Lates niloticus Linn.) in Lake Kainji, Nigeria. J. Agriculture and Environment, 1(2): 119-128.

Blake, C. and B.F. Blake (2006). The use of opercula bones in the study of age and growth In Labeo senegalensis from Lake Kainji, Nigeria. Journal of Fish Biology, 13(2):287- 295.

Corbet, P.S. (1961). The food of non-cichlid fishes in the Lake Victoria Basin with remarks on their evolution and adaptation to lacustrine conditions. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 136:1-101.

Dadebo, E., S. Mengistou and Z. Gebre-Mariam (2005). Feeding habits of the Nile perch, Latesniloticus (L.) (Pisces: Centropomidae) in Lake Chamo, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Science, 28 (1): 61- 68.

Dasgupta, M. (2001). Morphological adaptation of the alimentary canal of four Labeo species in relation to their food and feeding habits. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 48(3): 255-257.

Delaney, L. M., Daniel, M. J. and Campbell, C. E. (2007). Abundance and distribution of fish in the lower Mnembo River, Malawi-Mozambique. African Journal of Ecology, 45: 390–397.

Fagade, S.O. (1978). On the biology of Tilapia guineensis (Dumeril) from Lekki lagoon, Lagos State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Science, 12 (1 and 2): 73-87.

Gosline, W. A. (1971). Functional Morphology and Classification of Teleostean Fishes, Honolulu, University of Hawaii Press.77Pp.

Holden, M. and Reed, W. (1972). West African Freshwater Fishes. West African Nature Book, LongmanPublications, London. 69Pp.

Hynes, H. B. N. (1980). The food and feeding habits of freshwater Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus and Pygosteus pungitius) with a review of methods used in studies of the food of fishes. Journal of Animal Ecology, 19: 36-58.

Ikomi, R. B. (1996). Studies on the growth pattern, feeding habits and reproductive characteristics of the mormyrid, Brienomyrus longianalis (Boulenger) in the Upper Warri River, Nigeria. Journal of Fisheries Research, 26: 187-198.

Ikomi, R. B. and Sikoki, F.D. (2003). Studies on the ecology of the African long fin tetra, Brycinnus longipinnis (Gunther, 1864) in the Jamieson River, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Acta Ichthyologica etPiscatoria, 30(1): 23-31.

Ikpi, J.U., Jenyo-Oni, A. and Offem, B. O. (2012). Catch rate, distribution, trophic and reproductive biology of the African Carp Labeo coubie in the Agbokpim waterfalls, Nigeria. Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal, 38: 1-14.

Ikpongbeh, O. A., Ogbeh, F. G. and Solomon, S.G. (2014). Food and feeding habits of Auchenoglanis occidentalis (Valenciennes, 1775) from Lake Akata, Benue State, Nigeria. Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 9(4): 229-236.

Ipinjolu J. K., Nwosu, C. and Osanaye, B.C. (1996). Some aspects of the biology of Hyperopisus bebe occidentalis (Gunther) in Goronyo Dam, Sokoto State, Nigeria. Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 5(1): 25-39.

Ita, E.O., Balogun, J.K. and Ademola, A. (1982). A Preliminary Report of Pre-impoundment Fisheries Study of Goronyo Reservior, Sokoto State, Nigeria. A report submitted to the Sokoto Rima River basin Development Authority (SRRBDA), Sokoto, Nigeria. 75p.

Kumar, D. (2007). Fish and Fisheries of Kharagpur Lake. Ph. D. Thesis. T.M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur, India. 110Pp.

Lagler, K. F., Bardach, J. E., Miller, R. R. and May-Passino, D.R. (1977). Ichthyology. 2 ndEdition. Wiley and Sons Inc. Printed in USA, 139-163.

Lévêque, C. (2003). Cyprinidae. In: Paugy D., Lévêque, C. andTeugelsG.G. (eds). The fresh and brackish water fishes of West Africa.Volume 1. Collection faune etfloret ropicales 40. Paris: IRD and Museum national d’Histoire naturelle, Tervuren: Musée Royal del’Afrique Centrale, 322–436.

Lowe–McConnell, R. H. (1975). Ecology of Fishes in the Tropical Waters. The Institute of Biological Studies, Biology Series 76. Edward Arnold Ltd, 44 - 59.

Mamman, A. B. (2000). Nigeria: A People United, A future Assured (Sokoto State).Gabumo publishing Company Ltd, Lagos, Nigeria, 2: 986Pp.

Mellanby, H. (1975). Animal Life in Freshwater: A Guide to Freshwater Invertebrates, 6th edition. Chapman and Hall, London, 323Pp.

Montchowui, E., Tobada, P., Chikou A., Lalèyè, P. (2008). Caractéristiques et impact de la pêche artisanales url’ exploitation de Labeo senegalensis Valenciennes, 1842 dans la bassevalléedu fleuve Ouémé au Bénin. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Science, 2: 478–489.

Montchowui, E., Lalèyè, P., Poncin, P. and Philippart, J-C. (2010). Reproductive strategy of Labeo senegalensis Valenciennes 1842 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in the Ouémé basin, Benin. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 35(1): 81–85.

Montchowui, E., Chikou A., Ovidio, M., Lalèyè, P. and Poncin, P. Philippart, J-C. (2011). Population dynamics of Labeo senegalensis Valenciennes 1842 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in the Ouémé basin, Benin. Journal of Fisheries International, 6(3):52-58.

Needham, P. R. and Needham, J. G. (1962). A Guide to the Study of Freshwater Biology. 5 thedition. Holden Day Inc., London, 108Pp.

Offem, B. O., Irom, B. and Ikpi, G. U. (2011). Downstream changes on a tropical fish community structure by effluent from wood processing factory. Journal of Environmental Protection, 2: 982-995.

Olaosebikan, B. D. and Nzeh, C. (2008). Anatomical features and histology of the digestive tract of two African detritivorous cyprinids, Labeo senegalensis (Valenciennes, 1842) and L. coubie (Ruppell, 1832). Nigerian Journal of Fisheries, 5(2): 25-32.

Olatunde, A. A. (1979). The Food and Feeding habits of Eutropius niloticus (Ruppel), Family Schilbeidae (Osteicthys: Siluriforms) in Lake Kainji. Hydrobiologia, 57: 197-203.

Omoreigie, E. (2001). Utilization and nutrient digestibility of mango seeds and palm kernel meal by juvenile Labeo senegalensis (Antheriniformes: Cyprinidae). Aquaculture Research 32: 681–687.

Reed, W., Burchard, T. Hopson, A.J., Jennes, J. and Yaro. I. (1967).Fish and Fisheries of Northern Nigeria. 1st ed. Ministry of Agriculture, Northern Nigeria, published by Gaskiya Press, Zaria. 166p.

Reid, G. M. (1985). A Revision of African Species of Labeo (Pisces: Cyprinidae) and a Redefinition of the Genus. Braunschweig:Verlag von J. Cramer.

Shinkafi, B. A. and Ipinjolu, J. K. (2001). Food and feeding habits of catfish (Synodontis clarias Linnaeus) in River Rima, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Environment, 2(1): 113-120.

Shinkafi, B. A. and Maradun, H. F. (2008). Food and feeding habits of Protopterus annectens (Owen) in River Rima, Nigeria. Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Conference of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), held in Kaduna from 26th to 30th October 2008.56-60.

Shinkafi, B. A., Argungu, L. A. and Akanbi, H. S. (2011). Food and feeding habits of catfish (Synodontis nigrita Cuvier and Valenciennes) in River Rima, Sokoto, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 18(2): 304-307.

Shinkafi, B. A. and Rasaq, I. (2013). Food and feeding habits of Lates niloticus (Linnaeus, 1762) from River Rima in north-western Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Environment, 9 (1 & 2): 99-105.

Tiogue, C. T., Tomedi, M. T. E. and Tchoumboue, J. (2013). Reproductive strategy of Labeobarbus batesii (Boulenger, 1903) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in the Mbo Floodplain rivers of Cameroon. International Journal of Zoology, 1: 8-15.