Food habits of Chrysichthys furcatus (Gunther, 1964) from Sombrero River, Niger Delta, Nigeria

The study examined the food habits of Chrysichthys furcatus (catfish) from the artisanal fisheries of the Sombrero River in the Niger Delta; from May 2009 to April 2010. A total of 360 specimens were used for the stomach analysis using a combination of the frequency of occurrence, gravimetric and numerical methods. Data was analysed using Shannon Weaver diversity index (H), Relative diversity (J) and index of relative importance (IRI). The results show that small Chrysichthys 28.55%, 45.23% and 39.20; fish tissues 14.70%, 9.08% and 17.44%; fish parts 25.95%, 18.76% and 18.39% , fish scale 2.60% ,3.93% and 2.55%, insects 25.78%,21.95% and20.12% as the secondary and detritus 2.42%,1.06% and 2.30% as incidental food items. The Shannon Weaver and relative diversity indicate that Chrysichthys furcatus is a predator and had no food preference