Authors : Elie Montchowui, Jean-Claude Philippart, Pascal Poncin and Philippe Laleye
Abstract: The distribution, relative abundance and condition factor (Kn) of Labeo parvus in the Oueme river (Benin) are described from monthly data which were collected between April, 2005 and March, 2006. Fish were captured using gill nets set in the late afternoon and retrieved the following morning. The abundance and distribution of L. parvus decrease from Northern to Southern basin. L. parvus was observed to be more abundant in two sampling stations: Beterou and atchakpa situated in rocky habitat in the upper river. The lower abundance was observed in the two stations situated in the downriver basin. Maximum catches occurred in June, July and December. The mean condition factor (Kn) of L. parvus in the different stations from the Oueme river varies from 0.91 (in Agonlin-Lowe) to 1.14 (in Atchakpa) with a significant difference between the stations. The condition factor shows a definite seasonal cycle and that the fluctuations in respect of the females are sharp, especially during May to August although the trend in both sexes is more or less same. The fluctuations in Kn values in both the sexes can be attributed to spawning cycle as well as feeding intensity.
Elie Montchowui, Jean-Claude Philippart, Pascal Poncin and Philippe Laleye, 2012. Abundance and Condition Factor of African carp: Labeo parvus Boulenger, 1902 (Pisces: Cyprinidae) in the Oueme River, Benin. Research Journal of Animal Sciences, 6: 79-84.