Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of <i>Coptodon</i> <i>walteri</i> (Thys Van den Audaerne, 1986)

For the conservation of endemic species, it is essential to obtain basic biological data. In this framework, the growth parameters of the fish Coptodon walteri from the Cavally River, an area under the effect of the Ity gold mine in the southwestern part of Côte d’Ivoire, were analyzed. A total of 128 specimens were sampled between May and July 2021, including 72 from the Cavally SMI Hill South sector (CSH), located in the Ity mining area and 56 from the Bakatouo Camp sector (BC), outside the Ity mining area. Specimens were sampled using the standardized fishing method with monofilament gill nets (10, 12, 15, 20 and 30 mm) mesh size. The equations P=aL S b and K= 100P L S b were used to determine the length-weight relationship and the condition coefficient. The allometric coefficient b of the length-weight relationship varied from 3.01 in the Cavally Colline Sud sector to 3.2 in the Bakatouo sector. Specimens from the Cavally Colline Sud sector exhibited isometric growth, while those from the Bakatouo sector displayed positive allometric growth. The average condition factor varied from 1.46 ± 0.24 for the Bakatouo sector and 2.06 ± 0.28 for the Cavally Colline Sud sector. The results obtained provide information on the living conditions of Coptodon walteri sampled at the two sites of the Cavally River. These results show the consequences of gold panning on the growth parameters of C. walteri living in this part of the river.