Food Habits of Bryconaethiops boulengeri Pellegrin, 1900 (Characiformes: Alestidae) of Djiri River Tributary of the Right Bank of Congo River

Abstract

Diet of 300 specimens of Bryconaethiops boulengeri from Djiri River (Congo Brazzaville) caught with cash nets was studied according to the size of fish, sampling stations and hydrological season. Sampling focused on twelve annual withdrawals made during three years. The relative importance index combining numerical and weight percentages of occurrence was calculated and also the sex ratio was evaluated. Bryconaethiops boulengeri consumes terrestrial and aquatic insects and everything that falls into the water (birds feathers, plant debris, fruits, etc.). The percentage of emptiness is 9.66% of the three sampling stations selected; no significant difference in diet was observed whatever the season.