The monthly feeding activity and food habits of populations of Ethmalosa jimbriatu occurring in the sea and an estuary in Cape Coast, Ghana district were investigated during a 14-month period. The juvenile fish, whose total length (T.L.) ranged from 5-3 to 14.7 cm, occur in the estuary and appeared to be more active feeders than the marine samples which measured 15.0-30.4 cm. The peak feeding activity in the marine population coincided with the onset of ' upwelling ' in the sea, which period is characterized by high salinities, decreasing temperatures and high zooplankton production. The species is primarily a plankton feeder. The stomachs of the marine samples contained mainly protozoa, crustacea, molluscan larvae and a considerable amount of detritus while the stomachs of the estuarine fish contained mainly phytoplankton, protozoa, sand grains and organic detritus. These observations have been discussed in relation to other reports on populations occurring along the West African coast.
The gonads of Ethmulosu fimhriuta have been classified according to five and four maturity stages in the male and female, respectively. The species appears to mature at 22.0 cm in Ghana waters. The fecundity and frequency distribution of oocytes have been determined.Monthly changes in the proportions of gonadal stages and gonadosomatic index indicate that the species spawns in the sea from October to March. The results have been compared with data on populations occurring in other West African countries.
Sarotherodon melanotheron generally shows a paternal brooding habit, but females of one of the strains in Ghana also exhibit the potential for oral-brooding.
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