One of the items used in the WAEC 2023 biology exam is mature fresh catfish eggs. To research fish reproduction, these eggs serve as a representative sample. Typically, mature female catfish collect them during the breeding season.
This practical application aims to prepare candidates to recognize the various phases of embryonic development by observing mature fresh catfish eggs. And understand how fertilization and development work.
What is the mature fresh egg of a catfish?
The female African catfish has an ever-ripening ovary that is perpetually developed. This phenomenon is maintained in pond habitats where the temperature is over 22 °C. These “ripe” eggs demonstrate nature’s ability to reproduce by making up 15-20% of a female’s body weight of 1 kg.
What are the characteristics of catfish eggs?
- Catfish eggs are spherical and cohesive.
- The eggs are covered with a mucosal mass on the surface.
- Egg size ranges from 1.62 to 1.70 mm.
What is the function of the catfish egg?
They are crucial for sustaining and boosting catfish populations as they mark the beginning of the catfish life cycle.
What are catfish eggs called?
Fish roe, or sturgeon roe, is the term for female fish eggs. Several fish, such as mackerel, salmon, and trout, have roe. Only the roe from the sturgeon is regarded as caviar, even though many different fish families can be used to produce numerous different kinds of fish food.
What is the Colour of a catfish egg?
Live eggs are transparent; they turn from a pale yellow to an orange-red tint as they mature. Dead eggs are frequently challenging to spot in the first day or two after spawning.
What is the size of a mature catfish egg?
Ripe oocytes have a 1.0 to 1.2 mm diameter in the natural world. According to the current study, African catfish in Uzbekistan’s outdoor environment matured at 8 months.
References
- Fisheries Journal “https://www.fisheriesjournal.com/archives/2017/vol5issue2/PartD/5-1-90-634.pdf/.”
- FAO “ARTIFICIAL REPRODUCTION https://www.fao.org/3/W3595E/w3595e05.htm/.”
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