Egg development stages and fecundity of Atya gabonensis (Giebel, 1875) (Crustacea: Atyidae) from three different locations in Nigeria

Comparative studies of fecundity and stages of egg development of Atya gabonensis in River Benue at Makurdi, River Niger, Jebba and the confluence of the two rivers at Ganaja was done from January 2016 to December 2017. A total of 300 berried females were collected with the aid of fishermen and transported in ice box to the laboratory for further studies. Species identification was done using keys of Powell (1982). The sexes were determined using morphological features such as appendix masculina, reproductive chamber and numb. Morphological measurements were done according to Adite et al. (2013). Body weight was taken with a top loading electronic Metler balance. Fecundity was estimated by gravimetric method. Egg development stages were determined using external features of the eggs. The number of eggs varied from 550-36,673 in Jebba, 300-24,532 in Ganja and 4,300-8,600 in Makudi. Positive correlation was observed between fecundity and morphometric parameters in all the locations. All the ovigerous females in Makurdi, 14% in Ganaja and 17% in Jebba were in stage 1. Ganaja and Jebba had 39 and 35% respectively in stage 2. Stage 3 was 26 and 12% from Ganaja and Jebba respectively. Stage 4 had 10% from Ganaja and 17% from Jebba while stage 5 had 11% from Ganaja and 19% from Jebba. It was concluded that A. gabonensis is fecund and could make an excellent candidate for culture.