ABSTRACT
The composition of fish species in Ikpoba River, a freshwater ecosystem located in the Ikpoba Okha Local government area, was investigated to understand its fish composition for six month (March to August, 2023). A frame survey of fish composition was collected from local fisherwomen who used fish traps, basket traps and hook and line. Fish families were identified using Idodo-umeh (2003). A total of two hundred and twenty seven species (227) from seven (7) families and nine (9) order were recorded. The order and families were : Anabantidae (Ctenopoma), Bagridae (Auchenoglanis), Cichlidae (Chromidotilapia, Hemichromis, Tilapia), Clariidae (Clarias) Claroteidae (Chrysicithys), Malapteruridae (Malapterurus) and Schilbeidae (Schilbe). Of these species caught, the dominant species are Auchenoglanis monkei, Clarias gariepinus and Chromidotilapia guentheri and sub-dominant species are Malapterurus electricus, Hemichromis fasciatus, Tilapia dageti, Tilapai mariae and Tilapia zilli, there were no occasional species but there were some rare species which include Chrysichthys walkeri, Ctenopoma kingsleyae and Schilbe intermedius. The study provided an updated checklist of fish fauna of Ikpoba River, and will also facilitate formulation of development plan in the fishing industry, Ikpoba River and similar water bodies.
