PRELIMINARY CYTOGENETIC STUDIES OF Parachanna obscura OBTAINED FROM EGBE RESERVOIR, EGBE EKITI
F. A. OLA-OLADIMEJI *
Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, P.M.B. 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
O. V. EKUNDARE
Department of Biology, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Nigeria.
A. V. AYODELE
Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, P.M.B. 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Parachanna obscura belongs to the Family Channidae and are commonly found in Asia and Africa. This preliminary research was carried out to assess and provide information on the chromosome number and morphology of P. obscura using standard procedures. The modal diploid chromosome number of 2n = 44 was observed in this study. The study further showed that the chromosome types for the studied fish consisted of 10 metacentric, 12 submetacentric, 20 acrocentric and 2 telocentric chromosomes with 'Nombre Fondamental' (NF) of 68. The present study provides a piece of baseline information on the karyotype of this important species of fish which can help in further studies regarding its production in a controlled environment for its sustainability.
Keywords: Parachanna obscura, preliminary, chromosome, morphology, Nombre Fundamental