Comparative digestive biology between the ponyfishes from the Pranburi River estuary,Thailand |
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Authors: | Tassaporn Kanjanarakha Sinlapachai Senarat Kitipong Angsujinda Gen Kaneko Atsuo lida Pahol Kosiyachinda Witchaya Tongtako Supapong Imsonpang Jes Kettratad |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;2. Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand;3. Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand;4. College of Natural and Applied Science, University of Houston-Victoria, Victoria, Texas, USA;5. Department of Animal Sciences, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan;6. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand;7. Faculty of Veterinary Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand;8. Division of Health and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand |
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Abstract: | We investigated the digestive biology of two prevalent leiognathid species in Pranburi River estuary, Thailand: the decorated ponyfish (Nuchequula gerreoides) and the splendid polyfish (Eubleekeria splendens). A total of 632 samples collected from February to April and September to November 2017 were analysed using morphological and histological approaches. The overall structures were similar between the species: a short mucous-cell-rich oesophagus region, a well-developed gastric gland uniformly present across the stomach's mucosal layer, and three finger-like pyloric caeca between the stomach and intestine. However, there were marked differences in the mouth, gill raker, and intestinal coefficient (IC). N. gerreoides had a relatively longer mouth, smoother gill rakers, and an IC of 1.08 ± 0.01, similar to those of other carnivorous fish. In contrast, the gill raker of E. splendens had more villiform teeth that can filter-feed better, and their IC was 2.16 ± 0.02 (i.e., longer intestine). Although digestive structures were generally similar between the ponyfishes, these differences suggest that N. gerreoides is relatively carnivorous with stronger suction, whereas E. splendens may be an omnivorous or herbivorous filter-feeder. |
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Keywords: | intestinal morphology Stomach histology Thailand |
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