Morphometric variations in Sarotherodon melanotheron (Pisces: Cichlidae) from Brackish and fresh water habitats in South-western Nigeria

Abstract

A comparative racial study of Sarotherodon melanotheron (Ruppell) from brackish and fresh water habitats both in south-western Nigeria using morphometric and meristic characters to determine variations showed that they were phenotypically separable populations of the same species. The results revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in body depth, caudal peduncle depth, number of gill rakers and scales on the lateral line which were suggested to have occurred as a result of difference in the temperature, salinity and substratum in the two water bodies. The results also implied that fresh water broodstock could be preferable to the brackish population for breeding programmes.