DEVELOPMENT OF DIGESTIVE TRACT OF INDONESIAN SHORTFIN EEL (ANGUILLA BICOLOR BICOLOR)

Abstract

Information on the development of the digestive organs of Indonesian shortfin eel is very much needed in the management of feeding in the breeding of Indonesian shortfin eel’s seed activities. This research aimed to examine the development of the structure of the digestive tract of Indonesian shortfin eel macroscopically and microscopically. Indonesian shortfin eel’s samples were obtained from Muara Sungai Cimandiri of Pelabuhan Ratu, West Java, by using histochemical method. This fish has digestive organs consisting of the esophagus, stomach, pyloric and intestine. Histologically, the digestive organs consist of four layers, namely mucosal tunica, submucosal tunica, muscularis tunica, and serous tunica. In the Indonesian shortfin eel’s esophagus, the mucosal surface has goblet cells, with interlocking lamina propria. Indonesian shortfin eel’s stomach is cone-shaped, with a closed and shrinking apex, while the enlarged basal part has an esophageal interface. The intestine has a villous structure with an orderly arrangement with many goblet cells in it. The frontal mucosa has a relatively long villi. The Indonesian shortfin eel’s digestive tract plays a role in the process of absorption of food and nutrients for growth, and has a relatively short organ size. Therefore, these fish are grouped into carnivorous fish.

Keywords

• development
• structure
• indonesian shortfin eel
• digestive tract