UNDERSTANDING SEX CHANGE AND HERMAPHRODITISM IN AFRICAN LUNGFISH (Protopterus aethiopicus) AND ITS IMPLICATION TO AQUACULTURE: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS  

Development of sustainable aquaculture technologies for production of African lungfish seed is still a challenge attributed to knowledge gap in its reproductive development. Its successful culture will improve household nutrition, food security and income in Uganda. To build on existing knowledge the reproductive development of 578 feral P. aethiopicus collected from Lakes Wamala and Bisina was investigated to obtain data for its future breeding program. The study revealed a possible sex change and hermophroditism in P. aethiopicus specimens based on histological analysis of gonadal samples from fish ranging 4 to 6600g. Information on naturally occurring sex change or hermaphroditism in African lungfish will greatly contribute to our understanding of factors that determine its sex, and subsequently towards development of appropriate spawning techniques for mass seed production.