Gross anatomical and histomorphological features of the Acanthopagrus schlegelii digestive tract (Bleeker 1854) Perciformes,Sparidae

Acanthopagrus schlegelii is an autochthonous teleost species concerning the remarkable economic importance and prevalent fish cultivated in China as well as in different nations of South-East Asia. Little is known about the digestive tract (DT) morphology of A. schlegelii. Therefore, anatomical and histomorphological aspects of A. schlegelii DT were examined by light and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Anatomically, DT of A. schlegelii was mainly formed of oesophagus, well-developed stomach and fingers like pyloric caeca (four in number), intestinal regions and rectum. Histomorphologically, oesophagus occurred as a shorter tube-like organ presenting a longitudinal folded mucosa that connects oropharynx cavity to stomach. Stomach was a muscular thick-wall organ that included three regions, thickly longitudinal folds were observed in the first (cardiac) and last (pyloric) regions, whereas the second (fundic) region showed folds in different directions. Long villi were observed within pyloric caeca and anterior intestine. Tunica muscularis appeared narrow in the anterior intestine, whereas thicker in the posterior part of the intestine. Collectively, anatomical and histomorphological aspects of A. schlegelii DT are consistent with the carnivorous habit of this species. These data could be a potential source to modify better methods of nutrition and identify the DT pathogenic conditions in farming of this fish.