The Biology of the African Bonytongue Heterotis niloticus (Cuvier, 1829) from the Lower Niger River at Agenebode in Edo State, Nigeria
Table 5
Stages of gonad developments observed in H. niloticus.
Gonad stage
Macroscopic character
Testis
Ovaries
(I) Immature
Not encountered
Not encountered
(II) Quiescent
Testis were small and opaque in color
The quiescent stage had ovaries that were translucent and pinkish in color, oocytes were not visible to the naked eye, and blood vessels were seen on the surface of ovaries
(III) Maturing
The males had small milt that was milky in color
The maturing stage had ovaries that were creamy in color; oocytes could be visible though not well developed
(IV) Mature
The mature stage had larger milt that could be released with some pressure
There were creamy colored eggs with visible oocytes that could be counted. Blood vessels were very visible
