Abstract
Specimens of Clarias gariepinus and Heterobranchus bidorsalis were cytologically analysed while their serum protein was employed to characterize the two species. The diploid chromosome numbers for C. gariepinus and H. bidorsalis were 2n=56 and 2n=52 respectively. The nombre fondamental (NF) of C. gariepinus, and H. bidorsalis, were 51 and 49 respectively. The electrophoretic banding pattern of the two species produced five common bands while the relative mobility of the bands studied showed that there are few slow moving bands, more fast moving bands but no intermediate bands. The occurrence of chromosome number around the modal value which occurs generally among the clariid fish may suggest an ongoing speciation while the presence of five common bands may also be used as a diagnostic marker for biochemical differentiation of the two fish species.Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis, diploid chromosome number, cytogenetics, genetic variation, electrophoresis.
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