Comparative digestive biology between the ponyfishes from the Pranburi River estuary, Thailand
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Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
00221112
eISSN
10958649
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85182440985
Journal Title
Journal of Fish Biology
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Fish Biology (2024)
Suggested Citation
Kanjanarakha T., Senarat S., Angsujinda K., Kaneko G., lida A., Kosiyachinda P., Tongtako W., Imsonpang S., Kettratad J. Comparative digestive biology between the ponyfishes from the Pranburi River estuary, Thailand. Journal of Fish Biology (2024). doi:10.1111/jfb.15653 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/95592
Title
Comparative digestive biology between the ponyfishes from the Pranburi River estuary, Thailand
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
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.