Preliminary Study on the Food and Feeding Habits of Raiamas senegalensis (Steindachner, 1870) from Chakawa Reservoir, Mayo – Belwa, Adamawa State, Nigeria
“crossref”/

Main Article Content

Ali, M. E. 
Danba, E. P. 
Useni, S. S. 
Nandom, N. 
Dauda, I. 

Abstract

The food and feeding habits of Raiamas senegalensis from Chakawa Reservoir, Mayo – Belwa, Adamawa State was evaluated monthly for a period of one year. A total of 72 samples of R. senegalensis were collected, washed with clean water and preserved in ice crest to minimize any post–mortem changes, taken to the laboratory for stomach contents analysis, where stomachs were preserved in formalin solution of about four percent (4%). Stomach contents of each sample were identified and analysed using the numerical and frequency of occurrence methods. The diet of the R. senegalensis constituted of fish materials, insects, other materials such as sand particles and unidentified worms, plant materials which were the remains of plants, phytoplankton and zooplankton. Numerical analysis showed that insects were dominant and composed of 71.53% of the group of food items in the stomach, zooplankton 11.52%, other materials (unidentified worms) 8.15%, plants materials (remains of plants) 4.47%, phytoplankton 3.41% and fish materials were the least with 0.92%%. The frequency of occurrence indicated that Cullicoides spp. larvae were dominant and found in 58.82% of the stomach, Cullicoides spp. pupae, remains of insects and Nauplius spp. all in 57.35%, while the least was Barbus spp. in 19.11%. Findings from this study indicated that R. senegalensis is a predatory fish feeding mostly on insects, but also consumes fish, plants, phytoplankton and zooplankton. hence, could be considered as carnivore – insectivore. Further study should be carried out on the food and feeding habits of R. senegalensis from other freshwater bodies in Nigeria.

Article Details

Ali, M. E., Danba, E. P., Useni, S. S., Nandom, N., & Dauda, I. (2024). Preliminary Study on the Food and Feeding Habits of Raiamas senegalensis (Steindachner, 1870) from Chakawa Reservoir, Mayo – Belwa, Adamawa State, Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research, 17(1), 174-179. https://doi.org/10.62154/ajasfr.2024.017.010552
Articles

Copyright (c) 2024 Ali, M. E., Danba, E. P., Useni, S. S., Nandom, N., Dauda, I. (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Ali, M. E., National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, Billiri, Gombe State, Nigeria.

1 National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, Billiri, Gombe State, Nigeria.

2 Department of Fisheries, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Danba, E. P., Taraba State University, PMB 1167 Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria.

Department of Biological Sciences,

Taraba State University, PMB 1167 Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria.

Useni, S. S., National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, Billiri, Gombe State, Nigeria.

National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, Billiri, Gombe State, Nigeria.

Ali, M. E., Yusuf, Z. A., Bara'atu, A., Isah, Z., Hassan, S. K., Yusuf, S. K., Bala, H. and Danzaria, A. (2024). Feeding habits of African butter catfish (Schilbe mystus, Linne, 1758) of Sebore reservoir, Mayo - Belwa, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Proceedings of the Ecological Society of Nigeria (ECOSON). Pp. 110 - 115.

Balogun, J. K. (2006). Basic fisheries biology and management for tertiary institutions. Published by Ayo - Sule (Nig.) Printers and Publishers, Zaria. Pp. 88.

N'zi, K. G., Bamba, M., Berte, S., Aboua, B. R. D. and Kouamelan, E. P. (2014). Food and feeding habits of the silver fish Raiamas senegalensis (Steindachner, 1870), Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae in a West African River (Bandama River, Côte d'Ivoire). Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2 (6): 67 - 73.

Olanrewaju, A. N., Kareem, O. K., Nyaku, R. E. and Tubo, M. T. (2017). Length - weight and length - length relationships of Heterotis niloticus (Cuvier, 1829) and Raiamas senegalensis (Steindachner, 1870). Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development, S2: 011. doi:10.4172/2155-9546.S2-011

https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9546.S2-011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9546.S2-011

Olaosebikan B. D. and Raji, A. (2013). Field guide to Nigerian freshwater fishes (Revised Edition). Remi Thomas Press, Nigeria. Pp. 144.

Olorunpomi, G. S., Ndome, C. B., Enin, U. I. and Oluwaseun, O. V. (2020). Nigerian Journal of Wildlife Management, 4(1): 66 - 79.

Reed, W., Burrchard. J., Hopson, A. J., Jeness, J. and Yaro, I. (1967). Fish and fisheries of northern Nigeria. Published by Ministry of Agriculture, Northern Nigeria. Printed by Gaskiya Corporation, Zaria northern Nigeria. Pp. 226.

Yusuf, Z. A., Bara'atu, A. and Ali, M. E. (2023). The food and feeding habits of Heterotis niloticus (Cuvier, 1829) of Sebore reservoir, Mayo - Belwa, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Proceedings of the Ecological Society of Nigeria (ECOSON). Pp. 282 - 286.