Morphometric and meristic diversity between strains of Clarias gariepinus (burchell, 1822) from two eco-regions of Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out at Mediatrix Fish Farm, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to determine the morphometric and meristic diversity between strains of Clariasgariepinusfrom two eco-regions of Nigeria.50 matured samples of Clariasgariepinus of different sizes were collected from two eco-regions, Jigawa and Cross River States of Nigeria using traps, gill nets and cast net. Morphometric measurements in centimeters and meristic counts in numbers were determined. Using the equation K= 100W/L³, the condition factor (k) of the fish samples was determined. Of the 42 morphometric characteristics of the strains of C. gariepinus measured from both eco-regions, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) among the features between the strains from Jigawa and Calabar irrespective of the variation. Of these parameters, while Jigawa strains had higher values in 19, Calabar strains had higher values in 17 parameters. Out of the 5 meristic features of Clariasgariepinusfrom the two ecoregions of Nigeria, there was no statistical significant difference (p>0.05) among the features between the strains of the two eco-regions.Results of the length weight relationship of the strains of C. gariepinus from Jigawa and Calabar, Nigeria revealed that the mean total length, mean body weight and mean condition factor for the strains of C. gariepinus from Jigawa were 32.40±0.83, 366.19±39.05 and 0.87±0.05, respectively while the mean total length, mean body weight and mean condition factor for the strains of C. gariepinus from Calabar were 35.99±1.22, 516.50±62.31 and 0.94±0.06, respectively. C. gariepinus from Calabar had higher mean total length and mean condition factor than the C. gariepinus from Jigawa. Contrastingly, C. gariepinus from Jigawa had higher body weight than C. gariepinus from Calabar. Also, C. gariepinus from Jigawa had a b value (3.82) than C. gariepinus from Calabar (3.21).

Keywords: African catfish, Morphometric parameters, Meristic count, Eco-regions, Nig