Proximate composition of some tropical fish species

Four tropical fish species (Clarias gariepinus, Selar crumenophthalmus, Scomber scrombus, and Pseudotolithus senegalensis) usually available and consumed in Nigeria were analysed for proximate composition. The moisture, protein, fat and ash contents of the fishes were determined using loss in weight, micro-Kjedahl, dry-ashing and solvent extraction methods. The average moisture contents of the fishes varied from 67.44 to 68.46 (g/100g) with P. senegalensis having the highest moisture content followed by S. crumenophthalmus. The protein contents of the fishes ranged from 21.28 to 21. 65 (g/100g). The minimum and maximum protein values were reported for S. crumenophthalmus and S. scrombus respectively. All the fish types were found to be high in fat concentration and they could, therefore, be termed as oily or fatty fishes. Scomber scrombus, C. gariepinus and S. crumenophthalmus, however, had significant higher amounts of fat (9.27, 9.02 and 8.94 g/100g respectively) than that (8.55 g/100g) of P. senegalensis at P<0.05. The mean values of the ash were relatively the same for the four fish species ranging from 1.43 to 1.47 (g/100g). The four fish species are good sources of protein.

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