Morphometrics of Selected Fish Species from Tagwai Lake, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to elucidate the morphometrics of three fish species namely, Tilapia galilaea, Tilapia aurea and Auchenoglanis occidentalis from Tagwai Lake, Minna, using standard procedures. A Total of 360 specimens of the fishes were analyzed. The results indicated the following ranges for parameters investigated: Body Girth (BG) (3.78±0.76 to 5.48±0.84cm), and Total Gut weight (TGW) (2.10±0.84 to 3.12±1.73g); values that did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) among the fish species. On the other hand, standard length (SL) (range = 10 .94±1.34 to 20.46±2. 98cm), Gut Length (GL) (range = 25.92± 6.67 to 139.77±30.56cm) and Total Body Weight (TBW) (range = 49 .99±18.34 to 175.31± 66.96) varied significantly (P < 0.05). Cross correlation amongst certain morphometric variables, i.e., Standard Length and Total Body Weight, Body Girth and Total Body weight, Total Gut Weight and Standard Length were strong (r?0.7), while Standard Length and Gut Content Weight, Gut Length and Standard Length, Gut Content Weight and Standard Length were weakly correlated (r < 0.7). This findings no doubt support close evolutionary ties among the species, and should provide baseline information for sustainable exploitation of the fish species.