Table 11. A check list of fish species caught and identified in man-made lakes Kainji, Kariba, Nasser and Volta. (From Ita and Morcos, 1981)
| Personal record | Balon and Coche (1974) Mitchell (1976) | Latif (1976) and Dewitt (1973) | Petr (1966) and Denyoh (1969) | |
| Fish/Family/Species | Kainji | Kariba | Nasser | Volta |
| ANABANTIDAE | ||||
| Ctenopema kingsleyae | x | - | - | x |
| ANGUILLIDAE | ||||
| Anguilla nebulosa labiata | - | x | - | - |
| BAGRIDAE | ||||
| Auchenoglanis biscutatus | x | - | x | - |
| A. occidentalis | x | - | x | x |
| Bagrus bayad | x | - | x | x |
| B. docmac | x | - | x | x |
| Chrysichthys auratus | x | - | x | - |
| C. nigrodigitatus | x | - | - | x |
| C. furcatus | x | - | - | - |
| C. rueppelli | - | - | x | - |
| C. walker | - | - | - | x |
| Clarotes laticeps | x | - | x | - |
| C. macrocephalus | x | - | - | - |
| CENTROPOMIDAE | ||||
| Lates niloticus | x | - | x | x |
| CHANNIDAE | ||||
| Channa obscurus | x | - | - | x |
| CHARACIDAE | ||||
| Alestes baremose | x | - | x | - |
| A. dentex | x | - | x | x |
| A. leuciscus | x | - | - | - |
| A. macrolepidotus | x | - | - | x |
| A. nurse | x | - | x | x |
| A. lateralis | - | x | - | - |
| A. imberi | - | x | - | - |
| Hydrocynus forskahlii | x | x | x | x |
| H. brevis | x | x | x | |
| H. lineatus | x | x | x | |
| H. vittatus | x | x | - | - |
| Brachyalestes imberi imberi | - | x | - | - |
| Micralestes acutidens | x | x | - | - |
| CICHLIDAE | ||||
| Sarotherodon galilaeus | x | - | x | x |
| S. niloticus | x | - | x | x |
| S. mossambicus mortimeri | - | x | - | - |
| S. andersoni | - | x | - | - |
| Tilapia zillii | x | - | - | x |
| T. dageti | x | - | - | x |
| T. rendalli | - | x | - | - |
| T. melanopleura | x | |||
| Hemichromis fasciatus | x | - | - | x |
| H. bimaculatus | x | - | - | x |
| Pelmatochromis guentheri | x | - | - | x |
| Sargochromis codringtoni | - | x | - | - |
| S. giardi | - | x | - | - |
| Haplochromis carlottae | - | x | - | - |
| H. darlingi | - | x | - | - |
| Hemihaplochromis philander | - | x | - | - |
| Serranochromis robustus jallae | - | x | - | - |
| S. macrocephalus | - | x | - | - |
| Leptotilapia irvinei | - | - | - | x |
| Pseudocrenilabrus philander | - | x | - | - |
| CITHARINIDAE | ||||
| Citharinus citharus | x | - | x | x |
| C. distichodoides | x | - | - | - |
| C. latus | x | - | x | - |
| CLARIIDAE | ||||
| Claris anguillaris | x | - | x | - |
| C. lazera | x | - | x | - |
| C. gariepinus | - | x | - | - |
| C. senegalensis | - | - | - | x |
| C. laeviceps | - | - | - | x |
| Heterobranchus bidorsalis | x | - | x | - |
| H. longifilis | - | x | x | x |
| CLUPEIDAE | ||||
| Pellonula afzeliusi | x | - | - | x |
| Sierrathrissa leonensis | x | - | - | - |
| Limnothrissa miodon | - | x | - | - |
| Stolothrissa tanganicae | - | x | - | - |
| Cynothrissa mento | - | - | - | x |
| CYPRINIDAE | ||||
| Barilius niloticus | x | - | x | - |
| B. loati | - | - | x | - |
| B. senegalensis | x | - | - | - |
| B. zambezensis | - | x | - | - |
| Barbus occidentalis | x | - | - | - |
| B. fasciolatus | - | x | - | - |
| B. unitaeniatus | - | x | - | - |
| B. lineomaculatus | - | x | - | - |
| B. perince | - | - | x | - |
| B. poechili | - | x | - | - |
| B. anema | - | - | x | - |
| B. paludinosus | - | x | - | - |
| B. merneri | - | - | x | - |
| Labeo cylindricus | - | x | - | - |
| L. Coubie | x | - | x | x |
| L. pseudocoubie | x | - | - | - |
| L. senegalensis | x | - | - | x |
| L. altivelis | - | x | - | - |
| L. congoro | - | x | - | - |
| L. lunatus | - | x | - | - |
| L. rubropunctatus | - | x | - | - |
| L. forskali | - | - | x | - |
| L. horei | - | - | x | - |
| L. niloticus | - | - | x | - |
| L. chariensis | - | - | - | x |
| L. brachypoma | - | - | - | x |
| Chelaethiops bibie | - | - | x | - |
| DISTICHODONTIDAE | ||||
| Distinchodus brevipinnis | x | - | - | - |
| D. engycephalus | x | - | - | x |
| D. rostratus | x | - | - | x |
| D. schenga | - | x | - | - |
| D. mossambicus | - | x | - | - |
| D. niloticus | - | - | x | - |
| GYMNARCHIDAE | ||||
| Gymnarchus niloticus | x | - | x | x |
| HEPSETIDAE | ||||
| Hepsetus odoe | x | - | - | x |
| MALAPTERURIDAE | ||||
| Malapterurus electricus | x | x | x | x |
| MOCHOKIDAE | ||||
| Mochocus niloticus | - | - | x | - |
| Synodontis budgetti | x | - | - | - |
| S. clarias | x | - | x | - |
| S. courteti | x | - | - | - |
| Synodontis eupterus | x | |||
| S. gambiensis | x | |||
| S. gobroni | x | |||
| S. melanopterus | x | |||
| S. resupinatus | x | |||
| S. schall | x | - | x | x |
| S. sorex | x | |||
| S. vermiculatus | x | - | - | x |
| S. membranaceus | x | |||
| S. violaceus | x | |||
| S. batensoda | x | |||
| S. robbianus | x | |||
| S. omias | x | |||
| S. filamentosus | x | |||
| S. zambezensis | - | x | - | - |
| S. nebulosus | - | x | - | - |
| Synodontis serratus | - | - | x | - |
| S. nigrita | x | - | - | x |
| S. obesus | - | - | - | x |
| S. nigriventris | - | - | - | x |
| Chiloglanis niloticus | - | - | x | - |
| MORMIYRIDAE | ||||
| Gnathonemus harringloni | x | |||
| G. pictus | x | |||
| G. senegalensis | x | - | - | x |
| G. tamandua | x | |||
| G. abadii | x | |||
| G. deboensis | x | |||
| G. petersii | x | |||
| G. niger | x | |||
| G. cyprinoides | x | - | x | - |
| Hyperopisus bebe | x | - | x | x |
| Marcusenius psittacus | x | - | - | - |
| M. macrolepidotus | - | x | - | - |
| M. brachyistius | - | - | - | x |
| Mormyrus hasselquisti | x | |||
| M. macrophthalmus | x | - | - | x |
| Mormyrus rume | x | - | - | x |
| M. longirostris | - | x | - | - |
| M. kannume | - | - | x | - |
| Mormyrus cashive | - | - | x | - |
| Mormyrops deliciosus | x | x | - | x |
| M. oudoti | x | |||
| M. engystoma | x | |||
| M. anguilloides | - | - | x | - |
| Petrocephalus bane | x | - | x | x |
| P. harringlomi | x | - | - | - |
| Pollymirus isidori | x | - | x | - |
| Petrocephalus simus | - | - | - | x |
| Hippopotamyrus discorhynchus | - | x | - | - |
| OSTEOGLOSSIDAE | ||||
| Heterotis niloticus | x | - | - | x |
| POLYPTERIDAE | ||||
| Polypterus ansorgei | x | |||
| P. bichir lapradei | x | - | x | - |
| P. endicheri | x | - | - | x |
| P. senegalus | x | - | - | x |
| PROTOPTERIDAE | ||||
| P. aethiopicus | - | - | x | - |
| P. annectens | x | - | - | x |
| SCHILBEIDAE | ||||
| Siluranodon auritus | x | - | x | - |
| Physailia pellucida | x | - | - | x |
| Eutropius niloticus | x | - | - | - |
| E. depressirostris | - | x | - | - |
| E. niloticus | - | - | x | x |
| E. mentatis | - | - | - | x |
| Schilbe mystus | x | x | x | x |
| S. uranoscopus | x | - | x | - |
| TETRAODONTIDAE | ||||
| Tetraodon fahaka | x | - | x | x |
| OTHERS | ||||
| Aplocheilichthys johnstoni | - | x | - | - |
| Awaous guineensis | - | - | - | x |
| Cyphomynus discorhynchus | - | x | - | - |
| Pomadasys jubeline | - | - | - | x |
| Barbus spp. | x | - | - | x |
| Garra waterloti | x | - | x | - |
Table 12. Summary of number of fish families and species in man-made lakes Kainji, Kariba, Nasser and Volta
| Lake | Kainji | Kariba | Nasser | Volta |
| Fish Family | No. of fish species | |||
| Anabantidae | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Anguillidae | - | 1 | - | - |
| Bagridae | 10 | - | 7 | 3 |
| Centropomidae | 1 | - | 1 | 1 |
| Channidae | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Characidae | 11 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Cichlidae | 7 | 10 | 2 | 8 |
| Citharinidae | 3 | - | 2 | 1 |
| Clariidae | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Clupeidae | 2 | 2 | - | 2 |
| Cyprinidae | 6 | 11 | 10 | 4 |
| Distichodontidae | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Gymnarchidae | 1 | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hepsetidae | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Malapteruridae | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mochokidae | 18 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Mormyridae | 20 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| Osteoglossidae | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Polypteridae | 4 | - | 1 | 2 |
| Protopteridae | 1 | - | 1 | 1 |
| Schilbeidae | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Tetraodontidae | 1 | - | 1 | 1 |
| Others | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Total species and (family) | 101 (22) | 44 (>12) | 55 (17) | 58 (>22) |
Table 13. A subjective classification of fish species in Kainji Lake according to their relative economic importance with respect to market preference (From Ita, 1981a)
| Subjective Index of abundance | Maximum Observed Length (mm) | Maximum Observed Weight (g) | |
| SPECIES OF PRIMARY COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE (arrange in family groups) | |||
| Protopterus annectens | R | 1 000 | - |
| P. bichir | R* | 600 | 2 000 |
| P. endlicheri | R* | 600 | 2 000 |
| P. senegalus | C | 300 | 200 |
Heterotis niloticus | R* | 1 000 | 10 000 |
| Channa obscurus | R | 500 | 1 000 |
Gymnarchus niloticus | R* | 1 500 | 12 000 |
| Hyperopisus bebe | R | 500 | 1 000 |
| Mormyrops deliciosus | C | 1 000 | 10 000 |
| M. oudoti | R* | - | - |
| Mormyrus hasselquisti | R | 500 | 1 000 |
| M. macrophthalmus | R* | - | - |
| M. rume | C | 1 000 | 5 000 |
Alestes baremose | A | 340 | 250 |
A. dentex | A | 450 | 600 |
A. macrolepidotus | A | 400 | 2 000 |
Hydrocynus brevis | R* | 860 | 7 000 |
H. forskahlii | A | 650 | 2 000 |
H. vittatus | R | 1 000 | 15 000 |
| Citharinus citharus | A | 550 | 3 000 |
| C. distichodoides | C | 660 | 4 600 |
| C. latus | R* | 500 | 2 500 |
Distichodus brevipinnis | R* | 500 | 5 000 |
D. engycephalus | R* | 400 | 1 500 |
D. rostratus | A | 500 | 2 000 |
| Barbus occidentalis | R* | 750 | 5 000 |
| Labeo coubie | C | 500 | 3 000 |
| L. pseudocoubie | C | 500 | 3 000 |
| L. senegalensis | A | 400 | 1 500 |
Auchenoglanis biscutatus | C | 500 | 2 000 |
A. occidentalis | A | 500 | 2 000 |
Chrysichtys furcatus | R* | 300 | 250 |
C. auratus | A | 200 | 200 |
C. nigrodigitatus | C | 500 | 1 500 |
Clarotes laticeps | C | 700 | 10 000 |
Bagrus bayad | A | 800 | 3 500 |
B. docmac | C | 1 000 | 12 500 |
| Arius gigas | R* | 1 000 | 50 000 |
Synodontis batensoda | A | 300 | 250 |
S. budgetti | R | 400 | 350 |
S. clarias | R* | 360 | 800 |
S. courteti | R* | 500 | 1 000 |
S. eupterus | C | 270 | 200 |
S. filamentosus | C | 260 | 180 |
S. gambiensis | A | 400 | 500 |
S. gobroni | R | 500 | 7 000 |
S. membranaceus | A | 500 | 1 500 |
S. ocellifer | C | 250 | 160 |
S. resupinatus | R* | 400 | 700 |
S. schall | C** | 400 | 500 |
S. sorex | R | 360 | 450 |
S. vermiculatus | R | 500 | 1 000 |
S. violaceus | R* | 300 | 360 |
| Clarias anguillaris | C | 1 000 | 7 000 |
| C. lazera | C | 1 000 | 7 000 |
| Heterobranchus bidorsalis | R* | 1 500 | 30 000 |
Eutropius niloticus | C | 250 | 150 |
Schilbe mystus | A | 300 | 250 |
S. uranoscopus | R* | 350 | 400 |
| Malapterurus electricus | A | 1 000 | 20 000 |
Channa obscurus | A | 500 | 1 000 |
| Hopsetus odoe | R | 430 | 770 |
Tilapia dageti | C | 400 | 1 000 |
T. zillii | A | 250 | 300 |
S. galilaeus | A | 400 | 1 500 |
S. niloticus | A | 500 | 2 000 |
| Lates niloticus | A | 1 000 | 100 000 |
| SPECIES OF SECONDARY COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE | |||
| Alestes brevis | A | 200 | 300 |
| A. nurse | A | 250 | 200 |
Pellonula afzeliusi | A | 80 | 15 (2) |
Sierrathrissa leonensis | A*** | 35 | 10 (2) |
| Synodontis nigrita | C | 193 | 85 |
Physailia pellucida | A | 150 | 20 |
Siluranodon auritus | C | 150 | 20 |
| Campylomormyrus (Gnathonemus) tamandua | C* | 400 | 500 |
| Hippopotamyrus (Gnathonemus) pictus | C | 250 | 100 |
| H. (Marcusenius) psittacus | C | 300 | 190 |
| Marcusenius (Gnathonemus) abadii | R* | 400 | 500 |
| M. (Gnathonemus) cyprinoides | R | 300 | 300 |
| M. deboensis | R* | 250 | 100 |
| M. kainjii | C | 300 | 190 |
| M. (Gnathonemus) senegalensis | C | 300 | 200 |
| Pollimyrus (Marcusenius) isidori | R | 90 | 7 |
| P. (Marcusenius) lhuysi | R* | 90 | 7 |
Hemichromis fasciatus | C | 250 | 300 |
| SPECIES OF LITTLE OR NO COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE | |||
| Pollimyrus isidori | C | 90 | 7 |
| Petrocephalus bane | C | 200 | 40 |
| P. bovei | R | 100 | 10 |
Alestes leuciscus | A | 100 | 10 |
Micralestes acutidens | R* | 50 | 2 |
| Phago loricatus | R | 150 | 5 |
Paradistichodus dimidiatus | A | 70 | 3 |
| Barbus callipterus | C ** | 65 | 5 |
| B. hypsolepis | C ** | 35 | 3 |
| B. macrops | C | 90 | 8 |
| Barilius niloticus | R | 75 | 10 |
| B. senegalensis | R * | 200 | 60 |
| Labeo parvus | C | 150 | 40 |
Hemichromis bimaculatus | C | 80 | 10 |
Chromidotilapia (Pelmatochromis) quentheri | A | 100 | 50 |
| Ctenopoma kingsleyae | R | 150 | 125 |
Tetraodon fahaka strigosus | R | 400 | 1,000 |
| Mastacembelus leonnbergii | C | 150 | 5 |
Garra waterloti | R | 70 | 5 |
* Indicates species not recorded in rotenone samples but known to occur in the lake
*** Indicates species not picked up because of relatively small size of specimens
C Indicates common with possible capture of about 50 to 100 specimens each year using assorted gears
R Indicates rare with possible capture of about 5 to 10 specimens each year using assorted gears
