| Volume: 8; Issue: 2; December 2026 |
|---|
| Title : DIETARY PATTERNS OF ARIUS LATISCUTATUS: INSIGHTS FROM GUT CONTENT ANALYSIS IN THE ADOFI RIVER |
| Authour(s): S.N. Anayeokwu, R.B. Ikomi and K.I. Iloba |
| Keywords: Adofi, river, Arius latiscutatus, Benthic, Carnivorous, Diet, Freshwater. |
| Abstract: This study investigated the feeding ecology of Arius latiscutatus in the Adofi River, Delta State, Nigeria, using stomach content analysis. The study was conducted over 24 months, covering two wet and two dry seasons. A total of 91 stomachs were examined, of which 90 (98.9%) contained food, indicating high feeding activity. Stomach contents were analysed using the frequency of occurrence, numerical, and point methods. Finfish was the dominant dietary item, occurring in 42.11% of stomachs, constituting 15.34% by number and 20.45% by volume. Shrimps /prawns, crabs, molluscs, gastropods, and benthic insect larvae also contributed substantially to the diet. Detritus/mud accounted for 14.12% by volume, while plant materials, algae, diatoms, desmids, rotifers, ostracods, and other planktonic organisms occurred in relatively low proportions. The results demonstrate that Arius latiscutatus is predominantly benthic, carnivorous, and opportunistic, exploiting a broad spectrum of animal prey available in the river. Its diverse diet reflects the availability of benthic food resources and habitat heterogeneity within the Adofi River. The study provides baseline information on the trophic ecology of Arius latiscutatus and highlights its potential importance as a benthic predator and indicator of changes in aquatic ecosystem condition. |
| DOI: https://doi.org/10.46505/IJBI.2026.8212 |
| How to cite this article: Anayeokwu S.N., Ikomi R.B. and Iloba K.I. (2026). Dietary patterns of Arius latiscutatus: Insights from gut content analysis in the Adofi River. International Journal of Biological Innovations. 8(2): 242-247. https://doi.org/10.46505/IJBI.2026.8212 |
Pages: 242-247 | Viewed: 7 | Downloaded: 8| Download: PDF (1678KB) |
