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Fish Species in Kalong River, Shendam Local Government Council, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria

LE Igoche and MF Biyaya

Abstract

Sustainable exploitation requires knowledge of the ichthyofaunal composition in the water bodies. This study investigates the fish species abundance and distribution in Kalong River, located in Shendam Local Government Council of Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. The study area, covering an expanse of 2,477 km², lies between 8°53’00’’ North and 9°32?00’’ East, with a population of 10,500 as of the 2006 census. Fish samples were collected from three designated stations along the river namely: Kalong stream (Station A), Shargangroum (Station B), and Goedunlawumang (Station C) over two distinct periods, January to February and September 2020, to identify the fish species in the river and assess their seasonal variations between dry and rainy seasons. Sampling was conducted bywith the assistance of artisanal fishermen for three months using various traditional fishing gears, and the fish samples were collected and preserved in 10% formalin for laboratory analysis. The fish were identified to species level through external morphological characteristics, using the Fish and Fisheries of Northern Nigeria as a guide. Additionally, key water quality parameters of the river water, including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide, total dissolved solids, and electrical conductivity, were measured to provide context for the aquatic environment. A total of 16 fish species, belonging to 14 families, were identified during the study. These species included Bagarus bayad macropterus (Bagridae), Auchenoglanis occidentalis (Claroteidae), Oreochromis niloticus (Cichlidae), Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae), Barilius loati and Barilius niloticus (Cyprinidae), Hepsetus odoe (Hepsetidae), Schilbe mystus (Schilbeidae), Malapterurus electricus (Malapteruridae), Heterotis niloticus (Osteoglossidae), Petrocephalus simus (Mormyridae), Polypterus senegalensis and Calamichthys calabaricus (Polypteridae), Protopterus annectens (Protopterida

Keywords

Fish SpeciesCompositionRiver KalongPlateau State

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