Comparative analysis of Oreochromis niloticus and a putative hybrid (Wesafu): A Search for morphometric identity
Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, East/West Road, PMB 5323 Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Research Article
International Journal of Scientific Research Updates, 2023, 06(02), 052–061.
Article DOI: 10.53430/ijsru.2023.6.2.0054
Publication history:
Received on 03 June 2023; revised on 28 December 2023; accepted on 31 December 2023
Abstract:
Oreochromis nilotics is an important aquaculture species worldwide. Members of the tilapiine family hybridize easily in nature. The present study was conducted to examine the morphometric and meristic characteristics of Oreochromis niloticus from New Calabar River and a putative hybrid called Wesafu found in Epe Laggon. The study was based on the hypothesis that the tilapia hybrid will possess traits which will be intermediate to those of O. niloticus. A total of 24 morphometric measurements and 8 meristic counts were used to generate data which were analyzed using t-test. The total length of Wesafu and O. niloticus fish ranged from 7.00 -24.5cm and 12.00 -15.5cm respectively. Our study rejected the hypothesis of mid-values Additionally, the total length and body weight relationship were found to be a straight line in logarithmic scale expressed Log BW = 2.7724 Log TL - 1.6171 and Log BW = 2.8442 Log TL - 1.7114 for both Wesafu and O. niloticus respectively. The value of regression co-efficient "b" obtained for the length-weight relationship of Wesafu and O. niloticus was 2.7 and 2.8 respectively.
Keywords:
Epe lagoon; New Calabar River; Tilapia hybrid; Oroechromis niloticus; Morphometric measurement; Meristic characters
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Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0