Author(s): Kingdom T, Hart AI, Erondu ES, and Kwen K

Abstract: The morphometric characteristics and condition indices of Macrobrachium species in the Lower Taylor Creek, Niger Delta, Nigeria were studied from June 2008 to May 2010.The largest specimens of Macrobrachium species were found among the Macrobrachium vollenhovenii with a range of 2.00-13.00 cm and a mean of 6.56±0.12 cm total length. Macrobrachium felicinum and Macrobrachium macrobrachion had mean total lengths of 4.88±0.25 cm and 5.22±0.19 cm respectively. The relationships between total length and carapace length (TL = a + bCL) of all the species are stated as follows: M. felicinum (TL = 1.51 + 2.87CL; r = 0.92, P<0.001), M. macrobrachion (TL = 0.67 + 3.98CL; r = 0.92, P<0.001) and M. vollenhovenii (TL = 1.18 + 3.21CL; r = 0.98, P<0.001). The mean exponents of the length–weight relationships of M. felicinum and M. vollenhovenii indicated positive allometric function, while M.rnmacrobrachion showed isometric growth. The mean condition factor of M. felicinum, M. macrobrachion and M. vollenhovenii were 1.23±0.02, 1.26±0.01 and 1.06±0.06, respectively. Seasonally, condition factor was significantly (P<0.001) different between dry and wet seasons in M. vollenhovenii.

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