Some observations on the African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) in the Sondu-Miriu River of Lake Victoria, Kenya
The African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), has an intermitent occurrence in the Sondu-Miriu river draining into lake Victoria. Observations were made to get basic information on size composition, migration, spawning period and food of this species in the river. A total of 376 fish samples of fish ranging from 11.9 to 101.1 cm in total length were examined from January to December 1989. A migration of the fish between the lake and the river waters is indicated. Small sized and immature fish were available in the river throughout the year but their numbers became minimal in the dry season. Large and mature specimens were caught mainly during the high water mark and rainy seasons of April-June and September-October, suggesting an upstream spawning migration. First maturity for both sexes was observed at 21.0 cm total length. The overall female to male ratio was 1:2. The food was mainly composed of fish, detritus, plants, crustaceans and insects. The study is a contribution to the understanding of the biology of C. gariepinus in the lake-river ecosystem.
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| Format: | Proceedings Paper biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
ICIPE SCIENCE
1994
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| Subjects: | Clarias gariepinus, Population structure, Spawning, Freshwater catfish, Migrations, Size distribution, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/1159 |
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| Summary: | The African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), has an intermitent
occurrence in the Sondu-Miriu river draining into lake Victoria.
Observations were made to get basic information on size composition,
migration, spawning period and food of this species in the river. A
total of 376 fish samples of fish ranging from 11.9 to 101.1 cm in
total length were examined from January to December 1989. A migration
of the fish between the lake and the river waters is indicated. Small
sized and immature fish were available in the river throughout the
year but their numbers became minimal in the dry season. Large and
mature specimens were caught mainly during the high water mark and
rainy seasons of April-June and September-October, suggesting an
upstream spawning migration. First maturity for both sexes was
observed at 21.0 cm total length. The overall female to male ratio was
1:2. The food was mainly composed of fish, detritus, plants,
crustaceans and insects. The study is a contribution to the
understanding of the biology of C. gariepinus in the lake-river
ecosystem. |
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