Reproductive Biology of the Hybrid Coptodon guineensis x Coptodon zillii within Two Marginal Lagoons Invaded by Macrophytes in South Eastern of Côte d`Ivoire

Abstract

Hybrids of Coptodon guineensis x Coptodon zillii are omnivorous species with a phytophagous tendency found in most of water bodies of Côte d`Ivoire. This study aims to better understand its reproductive biology and possible influence of macrophytes on the breeding season. A total of 608 fish were caught monthly from September 2017 to August 2019. The overall sex-ratio showed significant predominance of females in Ono (1:1.37; χ² = 7.10; P<0.05) and Kodjoboue (1:1.84; χ² = 28.62; P<0.05) lagoons. The sexual maturity recorded in Ono lagoon for males (148.2 mm, SL) and females (145.3 mm) was slightly higher than that of males (144.4 mm, SL) and females (141.8 mm) in Kodjoboue lagoon. March and August–October (Ono lagoon) and February and July–September (Kodjoboue lagoon) were the most intensive spawning months. The absolute fecundity was higher in Ono lagoon (1472–6116 oocytes) than in Kodjoboue lagoon (1676–4210 oocytes), indicating a better food supply due to the high abundance of macrophytes in Ono lagoon. Oocyte size frequency distributions show oocytes of different sizes, indicating more than one spawning within a reproduction season. These findings might facilitate future studies establishing its potential production and its exploitation and management.