Studies on the Fresh Water Fish (Bizz), Barbus Esocinus Caught from Mosul Dam Lake, Iraq

Abstract

A total of 79 specimens of bizz,  Barbus esocinus were subjected to an investigation a period between June 1993 –May 1994. The investigation includes examination of gastrointestinal contents, length-weight relationship and the condition factor, and parasitic investigation.As concern the gastro-intestinal food contents, the main bulk of contents are small fishes (75%) such as Acanthobrama marmid, Liza abu and Alburnus pallidus and larval cestodes, Ligula intestinalis which were found among semi-digested food along with bones of fishes in addition to Cyclops and Diaptomus. Small hard parts were found such as wings and antennae of insects (about 10 %) with mucous and digested food.Length-weight relation was found to be as the following equation: Log W= -1.69 ₊4.23 Log LThis means that growth of fishes is allometric and not isometric as it exceeds the number 3. The condition factors was calculated and found as K=1.13.A significant correlation was found between the age and the mean of total length, standard length, width, mouth opening, head length, intestinal length, gonad length, weight of fishes. Generally, values of the above mean increased as the age increased which indicated that the growth of fishes is normal.Three species of parasites were recorded, one monogenean Paradiplozoon barbi , one cestode, Bothriocephalusacheilognathi  and one crustacean Pseudolamproglena annulata. Noteworthy, B. esocinus was regarded as a new host for both P. barbi and P. annulata in Iraq.