Reproductive biology of the African lungfish Protopterus annectens annectens (Owen, 1839) in the Mono river basin of Benin, west Africa
2020
Djiman Lederoun(University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou (Benin). Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Aquaculture) E-mail:[email protected] | Pierre Vandewalle(University of Liege, Liege (Belgium). Chemistry Institute. Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology) E-mail:[email protected] | Philippe Ad?djobi Lal?y?(University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou (Benin). Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Aquaculture) E-mail:[email protected]
In the Mono River basin, the African lungfish, Protopterus annectens annectens is found in temporary ponds. This species is of great economic interest because of its high contribution to fisheries. As a result, this study aims at documenting some aspects of its biology. A monthly sampling was conducted during the exploitation period (the rainy season, i.e., July through October 2015). A total of 281 females and 215 males bought from local fishermen were used for the study of reproductive biology and to generate a length-weight relationship. The results show that the specimens' growth is of the negative allometric type in both males and females. Mean sex ratio (1:0.77) favored females and was significantly different from a 1:1 ratio. Size at first sexual maturity was 29.6 and 30.4 cm total length in females and males, respectively. Frequency distribution of ovum diameter is bimodal, suggesting split-spawning during the breeding season. Absolute fecundity ranged from 447 to 1,200 eggs, while relative fecundity ranged from 4 to 9 eggs per gram of body weight
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