Analysis of food and feeding habits of Auchenoglanis biscutatus and Protopterus annectens from Lower River Benue at Wadata, Makurdi, Nigeria.

1Gbaaondo, T.,; 1Igbana, T. M.,; 2Iorliam Favour Mngusuun

1Gbaaondo, T., 1Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria.
1Igbana, T. M., 1Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria.
2Iorliam Favour Mngusuun 2Department of Biological Sciences, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria.

Keywords: Keywords: Food, Feeding, Detritus, Domestication, Habits

Abstract

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the food and feeding habits of Auchenoglanis biscutatus and Protopterus annectens from the Lower River Benue, Makurdi, between April 2019 and March 2020. Fish samples were collected monthly at Wadata landing site and analyzed for stomach fullness, gut length, and diet composition using frequency of occurrence and numerical methods. Stomach fullness analysis revealed that A. biscutatus had the majority of stomachs quarter full (50.6%), followed by half full (30.75%), while P. annectens had more quarter-empty (40.4%) and half-full stomachs (40.1%). Diet analysis showed that both species were majorly detritivorous, with detritus contributing 82.8% of the diet in A. biscutatus and 87% in P. annectens. However, insects formed the highest numerical component for both species (45.99% in A. biscutatus and 36.56% in P. annectens), indicating an omnivorous tendency with opportunistic feeding behavior. A small number of algae, plant material, worms, and mollusks were also recorded, while fish remains were not seen in A. biscutatus. These findings highlight the ecological role of detritus as a key energy source in the Lower River Benue and show that both species occupy flexible feeding niches that combine detritivory with opportunistic predation. These findings provide essential information for understanding the trophic dynamics of these species and for guiding fisheries management in the River Benue ecosystem and the possible domestication of these species.

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References

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