Morphometric Characters and Meristic Counts of Black Chin Tilapia ( Sarotherodon melanotheron) From Buguma, Ogbakiri and Elechi Creeks, Rivers State, Nigeria

An experiment was carried out to assess the morphometric measurements and meristic counts of black jaw tilapia, Sarotherodon melanotheron (Ruppell, 1852) from Buguma, Ogbakiri and Elechi creeks, Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was done to determine racial variations between this specie in the three environments. Fifty specimens were collected monthly from each location between April and June 2017. The results revealed that they were phenotypically separable populations of the same species. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were recorded in body depth, and caudal peduncle length in each month between the fish sampled from Buguma and other two creeks, which were suggested to have occurred as a result of difference in the environmental conditions in the three creeks. The results also implied that fish from Buguma creek could be preferable as brood stock for breeding programmes. Key words: Tilapia; Morphometrics; Meristics; Racial Variations; Niger Delta