International Journal of
Fisheries and Aquaculture

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Fish. Aquac.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2006-9839
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJFA
  • Start Year: 2010
  • Published Articles: 234

Full Length Research Paper

Morphometric relationships of African big barb, Labeobarbus intermedius (Rüppell, 1836) in Lake Koka, Ethiopia

Agumassie Tesfahun
  • Agumassie Tesfahun
  • Department of Biology, Ambo University, P. O. Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia.
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Elias Dadebo
  • Elias Dadebo
  • Department of Biology, Hawassa University, P. O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
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Mathewos Temesgen
  • Mathewos Temesgen
  • Department of Biology, Ambo University, P. O. Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia.
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  •  Received: 05 November 2017
  •  Accepted: 02 February 2018
  •  Published: 28 February 2018

Abstract

Morphometric relationships of African big barb, Labeobarbus intermedius (Rüppell, 1836) (Pisces: Cyprinidae) in Lake Koka, Ethiopia was studied based on the total number of 266 adult fish samples collected in April-May and July-August 2011. Fish ranging from 23.3 to 49.0 cm in total length (35±4.1 cm) and from 95.4 to 1200 g in total weight (434.4±206.5 g) were randomly sampled. Of these, 55.6% (n=148) were males and 44.4% (n=118) were females. The length-weight relationship of the males, females and combined fish were curvilinear and statistically significant (P< 0.01). L. intermedius in Lake Koka has positive allometric growth pattern, which was statistically significant (p< 0.01). Females were more allometric in their growth pattern, but statistically not significant (P>0.01). Length-length relationships between total length (TL) and fork length (FL), fork length (FL) and standard length (SL), TL and SL were linear and statistically significant (P<0.01). Result of Fulton condition factor showed no significant differences between males and females (P>0.01). The overall condition factor for all sampling period was 1.0.
 
Key words: Allometric growth, Labeobarbus intermedius, condition factor, Lake Koka, length-weight relationship.