Identification Of Fish Species Composition Of Itu River, Itu Local Government Area, Akw A Ibom State

ABSTRACT

 Identification of fish species composition in Itu River was conducted from March, 2013 to August, 2013. A total of 8 families comprising 7612 species were identified. The families include; CLARIIDAE (206 Clarias gariepinus, 34 Clarias anguillaris, 46 Heterobranchus /ongifilis, 6 Heterobranchus bidorsalis), CICHLIDAE, (188 Tilapia zilli, 163 Ti_lapia guineensis, 32 Oreochromis niloticus, 41 Hemichromis fasciatus), CHARACIDAE (14 Hydrocymus forskali, 46 Alestes dentex, 27 Alestes baremose, 24 Alestes nurse), BAGRIDAE (6064 Chrysichthys furcatus, 268 Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, 172 Bagrus bayad), CYPRINIDAE (147 Labeo senegalensis, 25 Barbus occidentalis), CHAN NIDAE (94 Para Channa obscura), MALAPTERURIDAE (34, Malapterirus eletricus) GYMNARCHIDAE (9 Gymnarchus niloticus). The species identified were analyzed with Simpsons index to determined the monthly abundance for 6 months sampling. The Simpsons index values for the 6 months is stated below: March D =0.279, April D = 0.6720563, May D = 0.5857183, June D = 0.7278505, July D = 0.7697882, August D = 0.1510989. Important information such as their scientific names and their body description features were obtained for the various species Itu is a natural rich community, with much economically exploitable fisheries and other natural resources in the area. There is high demand for Chrysichthys species from the start of rainy season. Heterobranchus bidorsalis and Gymnarchus niloticus is drastically decreasing in the area.