RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME SOMATIC INDICES AND INTESTINE LENGTH OF Gymnarchus niloticus FROM KATCHA RIVER, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A total of 96 samples were examined from January –June 2018 to estimate the relationship between intestine and total body length, and weight- length of Gymnarchus niloticus. Top loading balance, measuring tape were used for weighing and measuring the weight and length of the fish respectively. Micro soft excel 2016 was used to analyse the data. The ratios of intestine length to total body ranged from 1.1-1.3 and this showed the position of fish in a food web as predator. Linear regression analyses showed 0.96 and 0.99 R2 in relationship between body weight to total length, and intestine to total length respectively. These showed that 96 % and 99 % of the variability of the response variables have been explained by the regression model. It also indicates the predictability of the response variables.