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

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 (mean=35±4.1) cm and from 95.4 to 1200 g in total weight (mean 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 significantly (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.

Heavy Metals Accumulation in Water and Human Health Risk Assessment via the Consumption of Labeobarbus intermedius Samples from Borkena River, Ethiopia

“…L. intermedius is a large, hexaploid, barbine minnow species found in most Ethiopian drainage basins. It takes up a considerable part of the commercial fsh landings in the country [20]. Terefore, monitoring the level of heavy metal concentrations in commercially important fsh species such as the African big barb (L. intermedius) is essential to provide scientifc information for managing the Borkena River.…”