A comparative analysis of the food and feeding habits of African lungfish (Protopterus annectens, Owen) in River Rima and Goronyo Dam North Western Nigeria

The food and feeding habits of Protopterus annectens of the River Rima and Goronyo Dam in North Western Nigeria was studied. A total of one hundred and eighteen (118) fish samples were collected from October, 2001 to September, 2002 and the stomach contents were analyzed using frequency of occurrence method. The feeding adaptation with respect to mouth and related structures, gill rakers and dentition were examined. The gut length and fish length indicated rectilinear positive relationship. The regression coefficient (b) and correlation coefficient (r) of GL TL relationships were highly significant (p<0. 01). The main taxa of food substances found in the stomachs included substances of plant and animal origins, with overall frequency of 49. 1and 38.3% for the samples from River Rima and 27.2 and 60.3% for those from Goronyo Dam in the same order. The results of percentage occurrence of the food items in the dry season showed that animal substances in the juveniles (51.7%) and the adults (41.4%) were higher than the plant materials in the samples from the two water bodies. In the rainy season, the percentage occurrences of animal substances were higher in the adults (= 30cm) samples from Goronyo Dam than those samples from River Rima, while the same food items were absent in the juveniles (= 30cm) from the two water bodies. These feeding adaptive features indicate the roles of the species in their ecological niche and provide base line information that could be useful in satisfying their food requirement under culture condition. The diversity of food substances found in the stomach and their occurrence in the juveniles and adults varied with the water bodies and season.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Malam, Z.G., Ipinjolu, J.K., Magawata, I., Hassan, W.A.
Format:	conference_item biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	FISON 2008
Subjects:	Ecology, Fisheries, Protopterus annectens, Nigeria, Rima R., Goronyo Dam, freshwater environment, Feeding behaviour, Feeding, Food chains, Food preferences,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/1834/37957
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