| ARTICLES | Volume 1, Issue 9, Pages 351-355 (October 2015)

Research Article   DYNAMICS IN DIET REGIMES AND HABITS OF THE HAIRY TOADFISH, BATRACHOIDES LIBERIENSIS [PISCES: BATRACHOIDIDAE] OFF QUA IBOE RIVER ESTUARY, NIGERIA     | Mfon Udo | and | Patience Udoh |. American Journal of Innovative Research and Applied Sciences. 2015; 1(9):351-355.    | PDF FULL TEXT |

ABSTACT Background: Literature showed that Batrachoides liberiensis is one of the least studied in both industrial and artisanal fish landings in Nigeria. Therefore, we investigated its dynamics in diet regimes and habits, off Qua Iboe River estuary [Nigeria] between August 2009 and July 2010. Objectives: Considering the dearth of information on the biology and ecology of the species, this study was conducted to establish trophic spectrum and habits of the fish viz sex ratio, length-weight relationship and diet composition in relation to its ecological status in the ecosystem. Methods: Fish samples were obtained from landings of distant water boats at Ibeno, Nigeria, for twelve months. The samples were preserved in 10% formalin and taken to laboratory for body measurement and dissection for diet studies using taxonomic keys. Results: The toadfish has no well-defined stomach. Gut contents analysis of 360 specimens revealed that 9 food items (Penaeus notialis, Sersama alberti, crayfish remains, unid fish, fish remains, unidentified gastropod, insect remains, unidentified clam and sand grains)] were ingested by the species. The items were re-assigned into 6 major trophic groupings: Pisces, Crustacea, Gastropoda, Mollusca, Insecta, and sand grains.  Males were significantly higher in feeding intensity vis-à-vis the females. Diet breadth was 0.812 during dry season while 0.900 in the rains. There was seasonal similarity in rank-order of the dietaries. B. liberiensis off Qua Iboe River estuary is carnivorous, exhibiting affinity for fishes and crustaceans as major dietaries. Sex ratio was male-biased. Length-weight equations for the pooled, males and females showed the fish as a homogenous population that grows thinner as the length increases. Conclusion: The fish is piscivore-invertivore in feeding habits. The samples were preponderant of females. The toadfish is negatively allometric in length-weight data-pairs. Keywords: sex ratio, trophic, season, gut, length-weight relationship