MORPHOMETRIC AND MERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS OF Erpetoichthys calabaricus FROM WETLAND OF OGUN WATER-SIDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to assess the meristic and morphorlogical features, variation in strain and the length-weight relationship of 60 fish samples of Erpetoichthys calabaricus inhabiting the wetland of Ogun waterside Local Government area, Ogun state, Nigeria. Fish samples were collected with artisanal gears (bamboo traps) during January and February, 2011. Twenty four of the samples were female while thirty six were male. The estimated b value (allometry coefficient) of the equation W=aLb ranged between 2.127 and 2.535 for the male and combined sex while the estimated b value (isometric coefficient) is 3.04 for female. The fish samples have no variation in strain. The coefficient of relationship was highly close to (+1). There is possibility of this specie of fish as an ornamental fish.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Title Page
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of content
List of Tables

CHAPTER ONE
1.0    INTRODUCTION
1.1    Specific Objectives

CHAPTER TWO
2.0    LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1    Meristic and Morphological Characteristics
2.2    Sexual Dimorphism
2.3    Length-Weight Relationships

CHAPTER THREE
3.0    MATERIAL AND METHOD
3.1    Description of the Site
3.2    Collection of fish samples
3.3     Laboratory procedure and data collection
3.3.1   Morphometric features
3.3.2   Meristic features
3.4      Statistical Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR
4.0     RESULT 
4.1     Morphological Features of Erpetoichthys calabaricus in wetland of Ogun Waterside
4.2     Comparison for Morphological Feature of Erpetoichthys calabaricus   
4.3     Length-Weight Relationship of Erpetoichthys calabaricus in Wetland of Ogun Waterside.

CHAPTER FIVE
5.0    DISCUSSION
5.1    C0NCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
        REFERENCE