Studies on Morphometrics, length-weight Relationship, Condition factor and food and feeding habit of Pseudotolithus elongatus from Makoko River, Lagos State

Abstract

Over the years, aquatic resources have reduced exponentially due to several factors particularly the influence of human activities. The aftermath of human activities on aquatic environment includes the depletion of species, breeding ground destruction, and fragmentation of the ecosystem and so on. Therefore, this study provides information on the Morphometrics, length-weight relationship, condition factor and guts content of P. elongatus from Mokoko River in Lagos State. The total of 398 fish samples was collected. The collection was performed once in a month for a period of six months, although not consecutive months but between January, 2021 to November, 2021. The highest mean body weight was obtained in the month of July (330±58.0 g), while the lowest in September (38.4±70.0 g). The month of May with the value of (550-4.3 g) represented the widest fish range in a cohort while the least was observed in month of July (330-5.3 g). The maximum total length (36.5±5.1 cm) and standard length (30±4.3 cm) was obtained in the month of July. The female had better sex ratio across the six months except for the month of March. The value of ‘b’ (growth exponent) for male, female and combined sexes were below 3 indicating negative allometric growth pattern. The results on condition factor of females, male and combined sexes are greater than 1 except the result obtained in the month of March. For gut contents, four major diets (mud, earthworm, fish and crab) were observed indicating predatory nature while mud dominated the gut contents of the fish. The overall result indicated partially healthy ecosystem. Intensive monitoring of this water body should be mandated to ensure sustainability of the fishery. However, further studies in relation to the proximate composition and reproductive aspect of Bobo Croaker and other fish species from the study area should be done in order to update and provide more scientific information.