Length-Weight Relationship And Condition Factor Of The Elephant Fish, Mormyrus rume (Valenciennes, 1846) In River Ose, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

A total of 791 elephant fish, Mormyrus rume specimens of various sizes were sampled from River Ose, southwestern Ngera. Length-weight relationship and condition factor of the M rume specimens were studied. Their standard lengths ranged from 15.0 to 45.0 cm. Mean standard lengthfor males, females and combined sex were 27.86 cm, 3008 cm and 28.97 cm, respectvely. The body weight ranged from 75.5 to 610.0 g Mean body weight for males, females and combinedsex were 167.57 g 237.38 g and 202.48 g respectvely. Lengh-weight relatonship for males, emales andcombined sex were 1.699, 2.134 and 1990, respectively. The fsh exhibited alometrcgrowth in the river. The predictive equation was log W = -0.636 + 199 log L. The mean condition factor varied between seasons. The mean condition for males, females and combined sex were 0.787, 0.859 and 0.823, respectvely. The condtion factor decreased with increase in ndvidual sizes.

Keywords: Length-weight relationship, Condition factor, Mormyrus rume, River Ose, Nigeria

Animal Research International Vol. 4 (1) 2007 pp. 617-620