LWRsand condition factors of 32 fish species from the Odzala-Kokoua National Park(Republic of Congo, Central Africa)

Abstract

The present study reports on Length-weight relationships (LWRs) and condition factors for 32most abundant fish speciesfrom the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo. The study area comprised a total of 64 stations spread across the Kokoua, Mambili, Mbouebe, Lekeni, Lekoli and Lokoue rivers. Each station was sampled utilizing standardized fishing techniques with five monofilament gill nets of 8, 10, 15, 25, and 30 mm mesh sizes. Sample size, lengths, weights, LWRs, 95% confidence intervals of a and b, coefficient of correlation r2, growth type and condition factors are provided for each species. Values of allometric coefficient b of the LWRs ranged from 2.158 for Distichodus teugelsi to 3.546 for Pantodon buchholzi. The condition factors values range from 0.524-0.937 for Xenomystus nigri to 10.402-14.967 for D. teugelsi. These results represent one of the few contributions to the biology of fish in the Congo basin.