Abstract
This study aims to describe the anatomical structure of the digestive tract relating to its diet of the acoupa weakfish Cynoscion acoupa (Lacepede, 1801) caught in Piaui coastline from June of 2013 to January of 2014. It was analyzed 68 specimens with total length ranging from 25-70 cm, with a mean of 44,66 cm and body weight ranging from 2.5 to 11.7 kg, with a mean of 6.4 kg. The digestive tracts showed anatomical adaptations related to carnivorous habits. The stomachs presented cecal form, in “Y”, with gastric regions: cardiac, caecal and pyloric well defined; the internal mucosa was covered by extendable fold separated by a deep sulcus. The esophagus is short. The cardiac is greater region of the stomach. The mucosa folds presented considerably extendable to reception and conduction of food through esophagus and the stomach storage. The intestine is relatively short, with intestinal coefficient of 0.99 is divided into the medium intestine and rectum, with the presence of ileorectal valve between them. The pyloric sphincter regulates the flow of food to medium intestine. Pyloric cecum formed by four appendices with function of enlargement of the intestinal absorption area. The digestive tract morphology of C. acoupa is consistent with its carnivorous habits, ichthyophagous. Keywords: Morphological aspects; Digestive tube; Anatomy; carnivorous food habit.
Published Version
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