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Some Aspects of the Biology of Hemisynodontis Membranaceus (Geoffrey St- Hilaire, 1809) in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

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Some Aspects of the Biology of Hemisynodontis Membranaceus (Geoffrey St- Hilaire, 1809) in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria Sci -Afric Journal of Scientific Issues, Research and Essays Vol. 3(5), Pp. 717 -725 , May , 2015. (ISSN 23112311- ---6188)6188) http://www.sci-africpublishers.org Full Length Research Paper SOME ASPECTS OF THE BIOLOGY OF HEMISYNODONTIS MEMBRANACEUS (GEOFFREY ST- HILAIRE, 1809) IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA. 1Samuel Ozovehe Patrick* and 2JK Balogun 1Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. 2Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State. *Corresponding Author’s e-mail: [email protected] Accepted June 2nd , 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABSTRACT Some aspects of the biology of Hemisynodontis membranaceus (Geoffrey St- Hilaire, 1809) in Zaria were examined between the months of May and July, 2006. A total of 134 specimens were observed with the sex ratio of 1:1.23 males to females in all the months together. The mean standard length was 14.05cm while the body weight ranged from 22.8g to 318.5g with a mean of 75.3g. The length- weight relationship indicated positive and high correlation in both males (with 0.8809) and females (with 0.8479) and all the sexes combined (with 0.8269). The fish exhibited isometric growth in both sexes. The condition factor for both males and females indicated that the well-being was high through-out the period of study. The mean condition factor ranged from 2.50 to 2.84. The analysis of the stomach contents indicated that H. membranaceus is an omnivore with algae (which constituted 40.29%), plant material (29.10%) and insects (22.38%) as its main diets. Since H. membranaceus is an omnivore it can be used in large aquarium set-up to feed on mollusc, algae, insects and other aquatic organisms. Key words: Hemisynodontis membranaceus, Fishes, Biological studies, Stomach Content, Growth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION Fishes are the most numerous species of the vertebrate animals and about 27,650 species of extant fishes are known, and approximately 11,300 species, or 41% of all fish species live in fresh water (ACSI, 1998) unlike the marine species which are more numerous and diverse. Fish like any other aquatic organisms depend heavily on the level of dissolved oxygen, dissolved salts, light penetration, temperature of the medium, presence and amount of toxic substances, concentration of disease causing agents, and the opportunity to escape easily from predators or enemies. Apart from above, availability of food is very important as this determines the ability to spawn, develop gonads and energy for escape from predators. Increase in length and weight of a fish is determined by the availability of food, which in turn determines the growth of the fish. It is well known that length increases with increase in weight of the fish (Layèyè (2006), Ayoade and Ikulala (2007)). Food may be classified as energy and growth food (carbohydrates, fats and proteins); and non-energy food (minerals, vitamins, water and oxygen) that serve as supporting role in the energy food. Fisheries management parameters such as length-weight Patrick and Balogun 717 relationship, condition factor and sex composition are essentially used to predict the potential yield and determination of size at capture for obtaining optimum yield (Offem et al ., 2008). Food studies reveal the status of foraging, rate of growth and seasonal life history changes in fish species which are useful for rational exploitation of the species (Ugwumba and Ugwumba, 2007). Fish serve as an important source of protein to man, by providing about 17-40% of the total protein intake in various parts and countries of the world. Fish also constitute about 40% of the animal protein intake of the average Nigerian. Nigeria is also the largest consumer of fish and fish products in Africa (Dada and Gnanados, 1983). The body of an individual requires 60g of protein per day and the body of the fish contain 13- 20% of protein and has energy value of 300-1000 calories per kilogramme. Apart from serving as source of food, fish can also be used in many biochemical and pharmaceutical products when organs and tissues of the fish are used. For instance; protamine can be derived from fish sperms and combined with insulin to treat diabetic patients (Windsor and Staurts, 1981). It can also be used as fish meal for both poultry and livestock. Hemisynodontis membranaceus belongs to the family Mochokidae, order Siluriformes and class Actinopterygii (ray- finned fish). It is synonymous with Synodontis membranaceus, Pimelodus membranaceus and Synodontis guntheri (Sands, 1986). The species of Synodontis are commonly called “squeakers” because of the rather grunting sound they make through the pectoral spines moving in their sockets especially when they are caught. Other common names include upside-down catfish, mustache catfish and “Kurungu” in Hausa language. There are three genera and twenty-three species under the family Mochokidae. The three genera are: Mochocus, Synodontis and Chiloglanis, amongst these three, the genus Synodontis is the most numerous and prominent. These scales-less catfish are distributed through-out the country (especially fresh waters of the North) _ Nile Basin through Chad, Niger, Senegal, Volta and Gambia Basins in Africa (Sands, 1986). And can be encountered through-out the year but much more available during the rainy season. It can reach a length of 350cm and about 1 kg of weight. They are usually bottom dwellers and are very common in swamps. The behavioural adaptation of the species includes: juveniles differ in colour from adults; and some are used as aquarium exhibits because they are colourful and attractive. They are also simple to keep because of their extreme toughness. These upside-down catfish are highly gregarious, travelling in school of dozens to hundreds of individuals. This protection- in- number strategy is particularly prominent among the juveniles but as these catfish mature and grow in size; they may travel in smaller and smaller schools. They are devoutly nocturnal, spending the daylight hours tucked under a riverbank or piece of sunken debris. They prefer to feed, hunt, sleep, travel and even mate in this upside-down posture. They feed on a wide variety of food including shrimps and prawns, bloodworms, excetra (Sands, 1986). The position and shape of the mouth and even the dentition of a species could be correlated with its usual food (Wootton, 1992). There are very little works that have been done on the biology of the genus Hemisynodontis and Synodontis species in general unlike other members of the catfish families. Previous works were mainly on their taxonomy base on their anatomical and physiological characteristics. However, the nutrition of the species seems to be the most important. Sands (1986) reported that the usual feeding for Synodontis species are good quality flake food, tablet food, frozen blood worms, shrimps and prawns especially those kept in captivity. A good many fishes feed on detritus, particles of broken-down organic matters that fall to the bottom. Together with detritus, bacteria, algae and protozoans and other small invertebrate animals may also be ingested. Willoughby (1974) recorded about 22 species of Synodontis in Lake Kainji. In biological studies WLRs (Weight-Length Relationships) allow the assessment of seasonal variations in fish growth and the calculation of condition indexes (Richter et al ., 2000). In fisheries studies WLRs have many different uses, including the estimation of weight from length (Froese et al ., 2011). For instance, the results of length – weight relationships for Hemisynodontis membranaceus in Lake Volta showed that there was high correlation between the weight and standard length of both males and females. The exponent b is closer to 3 in males indicating that weight growth is isometric. Also, the asymptotic weight (W ∞) calculated from length- weight relationships and the estimated L ∞ were significantly different (p ˂0.05) and this suggested that there were differences between the growth in weight of males and females (Ofori-Danson et al , 2001). The condition factor of the fish determines whether the fish is healthy or not. It is the measure of the fish’s wellness and this is affected by a number of factors within the environment of the fish. The condition factor of fish can be affected by a number of factors such as stress, sex, season, availability of feeds, and other water quality parameters (Khallaf et al ., 2003). Little of the biology of this popular and commercially important species is known unlike other species of the catfish families that have been extensively studied. Since this species is important for our protein intake and it is readily available through-out the year coupled with its unique aesthetic features in aquarium the exploration of its biology is inevitable especially in terms of its feeding habits, the types of food contents of the guts, weight-length relationships and its well-being; thereby providing adequate knowledge of the parts of its biology and will help in food formulation of the species especially those that are kept for aesthetic reasons in aquarium. MATERIALS AND METHODS Specimen Description Hemisynodontis membranaceus has wide based maxillary barbels confluent
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