Some Biometric Parameters of Four Selected Fish Species in Doma Dam, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the biometric parameter of some selected fish from doma dam, Nassarawa State. Samples of Hydrocynus breves, Alestes dentex , Hydrocynus forskali , and Brycinus leuciscus were collected from landing sites and the corresponding morphometric measurement and meristic count were recorded Results reveals significant differences in twelve of thirteen morphometric parameters considered in the four fish species from the dam. The most influential morphometric variables for discrimination these species using the 1st DF were the predorsal distance, body depth, standard length and eye diameter, while anal fin ray, caudal fin ray and pelvic fin ray constituted the most influential meristic variable for discrimination of the groups. Plots of canonical discriminant functions 1 of the morphometric measurements in this study clearly showed a complete overlap between H. breves and H. foskali and a partial overlap with A. dentex but separate however from B. leuciscus . Meristic plots of canonical discriminant functions 1 however shows overlap of A. dentex , B. leuciscus and H. breves and completely separation from H. foskali .