Abstract
A total number of 202 specimens, comprising 75 females and 127 male specimens ofHyperopisus bebe occidentalis were caught from Warri River. This gave a 1:1.7 female to male sex ratio. The total length range for male specimens was 189.2 to 355.0 mm and 246.0 to 376.1 mm for females. The body weight range for male specimens was 51.0 to 448.0 g, while that recorded for female specimens was 106.0 to 400.0 g. The correlation coefficient for length-weight relationship revealed significant differences (P<0.05) for male (‘r’ = 0.77) and female (‘r’ = 0.51) specimens, respectively. The slope of the regression co-efficient 'b' was (2.68) for males and 1.76 for females. Both values were less than 3 implying that the fish increased more in total length than in body weight. The condition index was more favorable for male (4.64) than for female (4.14) specimens based on mean value calculated on fresh and gutted body weights. Key words: Food items, Hyperopisus bebe occidentalis, Warri River, condition factor.
Highlights
Hyperopisus bebe of the family Mormyridae was formally placed under the genus Mormyrops (Malami et al, 2002; Olaosebikan and Raji, 1998)
At the weight range of 200 to 249 g, male specimens accounted for the highest population proportion (37 specimens), while at a weight range of 400 to 449 g, only one specimen was encountered
Our analysis revealed that male specimens (K = 4.64) were in a better condition than the female specimens (K = 4.14) based on mean values calculated for fresh and gutted body weights (Table 2)
Summary
Hyperopisus bebe of the family Mormyridae was formally placed under the genus Mormyrops (Malami et al, 2002; Olaosebikan and Raji, 1998) This species is well distributed in swamps, lakes and rivers of most Nigerian fresh water bodies (Ogbeibu and Ezeunara, 2005; IdodoUmeh, 2003; Malami et al, 2002, 2004; Babatunde and Aminu, 2004); where they are far more abundant than other mormyrids. Some researchers (Kauamelan et al, 2002; Nwani, 2004; Malami et al, 2002, 2004) studied the food and feeding habit of this species in different bodies of water They reported a higher occurrence of plant materials in the guts of juvenile than in the guts of adult specimens examined. Food items of plant and animal origins were consumed indiscriminately when their preferred food items were scarce
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