Fecundity Of Synodontis Membranaceus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809) In The Lower River Benue At Makurdi.

Abstract

An investigation was carriedout on the fecundity and Gonado-somatic index (GSI) of Synodontis membranaceus from River Benue over a 24 month period from January, 2009 to December, 2010. A total of 106 fish were collected:  59 (55.66%) males; 47 (44.24%) females. 36 of the females had developing eggs of stages IV-VI. The standard lengths of the 36 females ranged from 18.40cm - 28.10cm with the mean of 23.34±0.39. Total weight ranged from 164.10g - 556.70g mean of 314.20±16.00; gonad weight ranged from 3.17g to 90.00g mean of 21.76±3.01. GSI ranged from 1.02 - 17.53 mean of 6.73±0.68 and absolute fecundity ranged from 1,327 to119,954 mean of 33,173±15.36. Fecundity was found to correlate positively with gonad weight (r2=0.7535) but not with GSI(r2=0.5728) and body weight (r2=0.2833).