Comparative Studies on Morphological Characteristics and Filleting Yield of Clarotes laticeps and Clarias gariepinus

Morphological characteristics and fillet yield of Clarotes laticeps and Clarias gariepinus were investigated. Thirty (30) fresh samples each of Clarotes laticeps and Clarias gariepinus were collected from Wadata market, Makurdi, Nigeria. All the morphological characteristics measured were significantly higher (p<0.05) for Clarotes laticeps than Clarias gariepinus except the mean standard length which was higher in Clarias gariepinus (27.73+ 4.26cm) than in Clarotes laticeps (24.81+ 0.98). The percentage Fillet yield was significantly higher in Clarotes laticeps (48%) than in Clarias gariepinus (46%). However, the percentage non-edible part was higher than the percentage edible part (Fillet) in both Clarotes laticeps (52% and 48% respectively) and Clarias gariepinus (54% and 46% respectively). The result reveals that the bulk of the body of both Clarotes laticeps and Clarias gariepinus is made up of non-edible parts, however, the more economical for consumers would be Clarotes laticeps as it gave more fillet yield per unit weight.