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Feeding habits of Synodontis nummifer, 1899 (Siluriformes: Mockokidae), from lower course of Tsiémé River (tributary of right bank of Congo River)

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Laboratory of Research of Animal Biology and Ecology, ENS, University Marien N’GOUABI, PoBox 69, Brazzaville, Congo and Faculty of Applied Sciences, Université Denis Sassou Nguesso, Kintélé, Congo
  • 2Laboratory of Research of Animal Biology and Ecology, ENS, University Marien N’GOUABI, PoBox 69, Brazzaville, Congo
  • 3Laboratory of Research of Animal Biology and Ecology, ENS, University Marien N’GOUABI, PoBox 69, Brazzaville, Congo
  • 4Laboratory of Research of Animal Biology and Ecology, ENS, University Marien N’GOUABI, PoBox 69, Brazzaville, Congo
  • 5Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University Marien N’GOUABI, PoBox 69, Brazzaville, Congo

Res. J. Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sci., Volume 13, Issue (1), Pages 1-7, May,24 (2025)

Abstract

This study is a contribution for knowledge of feeding habits of Synodontis nummifer from the lower course of Tsiémé River, captured monthly using cast nets. The analysis of 460 stomach contents has been conducted from January 2013 to December 2014, according to class size, sampling season and sex. The size of specimens were between 32.25 and 101.71mm, for an average of 63.73 ± 13.46mm; the vacuity coefficient was 13%. The food spectrum of S. nummifer consists mainly of sand (Ip= 51.83%) and unidentified prey (Ip= 20.18%). The change in diet is observed depending on the size, with a tendency to entomophagy for small specimens. The diet varies also with the seasons, sand is the main prey during the dry season and insects became main prey during the rainy season. There is no difference between the sexes. The food composition and the intestinal coefficient revealed that Synodontis nummifer is an omnivorous species.

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