Analyzing the nutritional value of Acanthopagrus latus and Coptodon zilli muscles from the Al-Hindiya river in the Iraqi region of Karbala

The present study dealt with the determination of the protein, fat, moisture and ash chemical content for two species of bony fish (Teleosts) that belonged to two different families, namely Acanthopagrus latus (Sparidea) and Coptodon zilli ( Cichlidae). Also, the total energy (calories) to the protein and fat contents in the muscles of the two studied fish and for two regions for each species. Samples were collected from the Al-Hindiya river in Karbala Province between August and October 2020. The current results noted an apparent difference in the mean values of chemical contents for the studied length groups, which ranged between 100-400 mm, and for two regions of the body, as the rates of protein content in A. latus were 17.42-18.60% while their rates ranged in C. zilli between 17.20-18.54%. The rates of fat content in A. latus were 6.40-7.50%, whereas ranged between 5.70-6.30% in C. zilli and the rates of moisture content ranged from 74.60 to 70.16%, while In C. zilli fish, the rates ranged between 75.40-72.40%, and the ash content ranged from 1.42 to1.80% and 1.14-1.34% in A. latus and C. zilli fish respectively. Both fish were considered medium-fat content fish depending on its value in their muscles.
 
Keywords: nutritional value; fish muscles; Coptodon zilli; Acanthopagrus latus .