A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE ALIMENTARY CANAL AND THE FEEDING HABITS OF SOME SCHIZOTHORACINE FISH IN MAQU FISHING GROUND

The present paper described an investigation and comparison of morphological structures of the alimentary canal of the schizothoracinae fishes in the Maqu Fishing Ground and discussed the relationships between the morphological structures of their alimentary canal and feeding habits. The results are as follows: 1. The morphology of alimentary canal of these schizothoracinae fishes is essentially similar to that of other cyprinid fishes. However, their microscopic structures are not identical with those of other cyprinids, but are similar to those of Glossogobius giurus. 2. It is considered that the composition of the mucus-seoreting cells is different in different teleost species and is correlated with the feeding habits. In the oesophagus epithelium of teleosts, besides the generally known stratified epithelium, there is probably a columnar epithelium which is composed of two rows of columnar epithelial cells. 3. The adaptation of morphological structures of the alimentary canal to feending habits in these fishes is mainly reflected in the buccal cavity, pharynx, oesophagus and length of intestine etc. The microscopic structure of intestine does not show any peculiar adaptation to the feeding habits.