FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF SOME FISH SPECIES IN OGUN STATE COASTAL ESTUARY, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The food and feeding habits of eight (8) fish species Elops lacerta, Chrysichthys auratus, Schilbe mys-
tus, Sardinella maderensis, Synodontis schall, Hepsetus odoe, Tilapia zillii and Mugil cephalus in
Ogun estuary, Ogun State, Nigeria were studied and estimated for six months, between February and
July, 2014. A total of 470 fishes were randomly collected from the commercial fishermen during the
study. Results from the stomach contents analysed using frequency of occurrence and numerical
methods showed that S. mystus, E. lacerta, S. maderensis, H. odoe, S. schall, T. zillii, M. cephalus
and C. auratus were predators, piscivores, herbivores, piscivores, omnivores, herbivores, herbivores
and omnivores respectively while H. odoe and S.mystus partly fed on E. lacerta and T. zillii respec-
tively. The Diet Breadth (D) ranged from 0.76 to 0.88 and the percentage Gut Repletion Index (GRI), a
reflection of frequency of feeding, ranged between 60-100%.