Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The morphology of the otoliths of the bagrid catfish, chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (lacepede) and their use in age determination

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two pairs of otoliths, the saccular and sagittae are shown to be well developed in the catfish,Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus. The gross morphology of each pair is provided. Growth markings arranged in a periodic manner are demonstrated. In addition, daily growth marks are shown to be present. The growth markings on the sagittae are interpreted and used in estimating the age and growth of the species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bayagbona, E. O. 1966. Age determination and the Bertalanfy growth parameters of Pseudotolithus typus and P. senegalensis using the ‘burnt otolith technique’. Proc. Symp. Ocean and Fisheries Resources of Trop. Atlantic. 349–359

  • Brothers, E. B., Matthews, C. P. & Lasker, R. 1976. Daily growth increments in otolith from larval and adult fishes. Fish. Bull. 74(I): 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, J. M. 1964. Burning of otoliths, a technique for age determination of soles and other fish. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer 29: 73–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esiuzo, E. N. C. 1963. The identification of otoliths from West African demersal fish. Bull. Inst. fr. Afr. Noire, 25(I):488–512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egborge, A. B. M. 1978. The 10750ology and plankton of Asejire Lake Ph.D thesis, University of Ibadan.

  • Fagade, S. O. 1969. The biology of some fishes and the fisheries of the Lagos lagoon. Ph.D. thesis Univ. of Lagos, Lagos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagade, S. O. (in press). Analysis of growth markings on the otoliths of three cichlids from Asejire dam, Ibadan, Nigeria. Int. Workshop on Use of Otoliths for Age determination.

  • Fryer, G. & Iles, T. D. 1972. The cichlid fishes of the Great Lakes of Africa. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikusemiju, K. 1973. The biology of the bagrid catfishes from Lekki Lagoon. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Lagos, Lagos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imevbore, A. M. A. 1970. Some preliminary observations on the sex ratio and fecundity of the fish in the River Niger. Kainji Lake Studies, Vol. 1, Ecology: Ed. Visser, S. A. 87–98.

  • Jones, B. W. & Bedford, B. C. 1968. Tetracycline labelling as an aid to interpretation of otolith structures in age determination — a progress report. Ices, C. M. 1968/Gen. 11, 3 Pp (mimeo).

  • Lea, E. 1910 On the methods used in herring investigations. Publs Circonst. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer. No. 53.

  • May, A. W. 1965. The validity of otolith ages of southern Grand Bank cod. KNAF Res. Bull. No. 2: 19–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Mina, M. V. 1968. A note on a problem in the visual qualitative evaluation of otolith zones. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer. 32 (I): 93–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motwani, M. P. & Kanwai, Y. 1970. Fish and fisheries of the coffer damed channel of the river Niger at Kainji. Kainji Lake Studies, Vol. 1, Ecology, Ed. Visser, S. A. 27–48.

  • Olaniyan, C. I. O. 1957. The seasonal variation in plankton in Lagos harbour, Nigerian. Ph.D. Thesis Univ. of Lund.

  • Olaniyan, C. I. O. 1969. The seasonal variation in the 10750ology and total plankton of the lagoons of South West Nigeria. Nig. J. Sc. 3, 2: 101–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyenekan, G. 1975. A survey of the benthos of the Lagos lagoon (with particular reference to the Mollusca). M.Sc. thesis, Univ. of Lagos.

  • Panella, G. 1971. Fish otoliths, daily layers and periodical patterns. Science, 173: 1124–1127.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Panella, G. 1974. Otolith growth patterns: an aid in age determination in temperate and tropical fishes. Proc. Int. Symp. (Ed. Bagenal, T. B.) Ageing of Fish, pp. 28–39.

  • Strutsaker, P. & Uchiyama, J. H. 1976. Age and growth of the nehu, Stolephorus purpureus (Pisces: Engraulidae), from the Hawaiian islands as indicated by daily growth increments of sagittae. Fish. Bull. 74, 1: 9–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taubert, B. O. 1976. Daily rings in saccular otoliths of Lepomis sp. and Tilapia mossambica. M.Sc. thesis Univ. of Wisconsin in Stevens Point.

  • Watson, J. E. 1964. Determining the age of young herring from their otoliths. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 94: 11–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan

    S. O. Fagade

Authors
  1. S. O. Fagade
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fagade, S.O. The morphology of the otoliths of the bagrid catfish, chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (lacepede) and their use in age determination. Hydrobiologia 71, 209–215 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686127

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686127

Keywords

Search

Navigation