Journal of Animal Diversity

Journal of Animal Diversity

Diet of some fish species of the family Mormyridae (Actinopterygii: Teleostei; Bonaparte, 1831) from the upper Sanaga River, Central Region of Cameroon

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Marina Armel à Mmira Akohogni 1
Boddis Tsiguia Zebaze 2
Alexia Kevine Noubissi Chiassa 2
Pamela Cynthia Mepa Tchiegang 2
Claudine Tekounegning Tiogué 3
Dorothy Engwali Fon 4
Evrard Kouopestchop Medjo 5
1 Laboratory of Applied Ichthyology and Hydrobiology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Dschang, P.O. Box 222, Dschang-Cameroon
2 Laboratory of Applied Ichthyology and Hydrobiology, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of
3 Higher Institute of Agriculture, Forestry, Water and Environment (HIAFWE). The University of Ebolowa, P.O. Box 786 Ebolowa - Cameroon
4 Departement of Rural Socio-economy and Agricultural Vulgarization, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon
5 Centre of Food, Food Safety and Nutrition Research (CRASAN), P. O. Box: 13033, Yaounde-Cameroon
10.22034/JAD.2024.6.1.5
Abstract
This study was carried out between October 2020 and October 2021 with the aim of determining sustainable management options and nutrition for the domestication of Mormyridae fish species living in the Sanaga River in central Cameroon. For this purpose, 451 specimens collected from local fishermen were identified and grouped into four genera and seven species, constituting 20.84% Campylomormyrus phantasticus (Pellegrin), 5.32% Hippopotamyrus castor (Pappenheim), 24.61% Mormyrops anguilloides (Linnaeus), 18.63% Mormyrops caballus (Pellegrin), 4.66% Mormyrops zanclirostris (Günther, 1867), 15.52% Mormyrus rume (Valenciennes), and 10.42% Mormyrus tapirus (Pappenheim). Fish were measured, and parameters were obtained after dissection using intestinal morphometric characteristics and stomach content analysis methods. The emptiness coefficient varied from 0% (Hippopotamyrus castor and Mormyrops zanclirostris) to 26.66% (Mormyrus rume). The relative mass of the intestine was low in all studied species; the intestinal coefficient and the Zihler index of all these species are within the range of carnivorous species. Analysis of stomach contents revealed a broad food spectrum containing twelve categories of prey. Insects, macrophytes and larval insect shelters were the preferred foods of Mormyrops anguilloides, Mormyrops caballus and Mormyrops zanclirostris, while insect larvae and larval shelters were the preferred prey for other species. Site and season had little effect on the categories of prey consumed by these species.
Keywords
Biodiversity
Ebebda
feeding
Monatélé
Mormyridae
stomach contents
Subjects
Journal of Animal Diversity
Volume 6, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
Cover photo: The Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus (Boddaert, 1783), from Chilavannoor, Kochi City, Kerala, India (Urban Habitat: Rocks and stones). Photo by Joseliph Abin, July 18, 2019.
Winter 2024
Pages 51-62