Abstract

Major aspects of flesh nutritive value of Gymnarchus niloticus and Heterotis niloticus were studied in present research work. The body yield of H. niloticus followed the following decreasing order; fillet, head, skeleton, skin and viscera while in G. niloticus it is fillet, skeleton, head, skin and viscera. The fillet yield was found to be 46.9% in G. niloticus and 42.3% in H. niloticus. The length weight relationship, body weight and yield weight were significantly correlated in both species. Both species showed relatively high fat content. Significant negative correlations were found between moisture and ash in H. niloticus and between moisture and fat in G. niloticus. On the basis of nutritional value (fat/protein) ratio of H. niloticus recorded 1:11.69, while the calculated caloric value of H. niloticus was found to be 308.572 kcal/g and 253.474 kcal/g for G. niloticus. Present study provides a base line data on yield indices, chemical composition and nutritional value of these species and considered both species as a good source of food with high nutritive value.