INTESTINE MORPHOMETRICS AND FEEDING HABITS OF THE AFRICAN CARP Labeobarbus batesii (CYPRINIDAE, TELEOSTEI) IN THE MBÔ FLOODPLAIN RIVERS

Gut morphometrics and feeding habits of the African carp Labeobarbus batesii (Boulenger, 1903) in the Mbô Floodplain Rivers (Cameroon) were described from monthly data collected between May 2008 and October 2009. In general, gut repletion index (GRI) was very high (> 80%). This means that L. batesii has an intense feeding activity. It was significantly higher in the inter-confluence than in the confluence, in mature than immature fishes, in the rainy season than in the dry season and in females than in males. The average value of the relative gut length (RGL) was 3.241±0.645 and of relative gut mass (RGM) was 0.0661±0.0261, indicating a diet based on plant material and detritus, with higly developed microvilli, what creates a large absorption surface for this species. Gut length - fish total length (GL-TL) and gut mass - fish body mass (GM-W) relationships were significantly higher meaning that the species includes plant material in its diet in significant proportions. Labeobarbus batesii should thus be classified as omnivorous with preference for plant material. This species can exploit different trophic levels of water. In captivity, it could be reared in polyculture, in association with other fish species with more specialized diets. Furthermore the preference for plant as foods could be of ecological interest in the control of aquatic vegetation. Labeobarbus batesii is most likely to be domesticated because it can absorb better plants proteins, which the use is increasingly being recommended in aquaculture.