Activity 9

The Digestive Physiology of Milkfish

I.Background information and objectives:

Relative gut length (RGL) is defined as the ratio of the gut length to the body length
of fish. High RGLs are indicative of fish species eating detritus or algae, while low RGLs are
of carnivorous fish. Generally, RGLs of different species (Kramer and Brant, 1995) are as
follows:

Primary plankton eaters = 0.5 – 0.7

Carnivorous = 0.7 – 0.9
Omnivores = 1.1 – 2.2
Herbivores = 5.4 – 28.7

The shape and size of gill rakers are also indicators of the diet of fish. The form of the
gill rakers follows its function. Here are some generalizations:

 Short, stout, sharp and widely-spaced gill rakers in piscivores

 Short and stubby in eaters of shelled invertebrates
 Long, fine, closely-spaced in filter feeders
 Intermediate (length, spacing and thickness) in fish with mixed

diets The objectives of this experiment are the following:

a. To examine the digestive system of milkfish;

b. To measure its RGL;
c. To observe and draw its gill rakers; and
d. To relate RGL and gill rakers with fish’s diets.

II.Materials:

milkfish disposable gloves paper towels trash bags

dissecting kit caliper or ruler dissecting pan

III.Preparation before actual experiment:

1. The day before the laboratory session, each group is to buy one (1) piece of small
to medium-sized, fresh, intact, and whole-bodied milkfish. Fresh fish is indicated by
the following qualities:

a. Clear, translucent eyes (not the red, bloody ones)

b. Intact fish scales
c. Bright red gills
d. No apparent body injuries

2. Store the fish inside the freezer overnight and thaw the fish the next morning.
Transport the fish to the laboratory inside a cooler filled with ice.

IV.Procedure:

1. Place the fish sample on a clean dissecting pan. Draw the external appearance of
the fish sample. Write and mark observations.
 2. Using a scalpel, make an incision at the anus which Is located at the anterior and
ventral end of the fish. Extend the incision along the belly towards the head. Continue
the incision as it passes the pelvic fins.

3. Using scissors, cut the bones attached to the pelvic fins. Pull apart the walls of the
body cavity to expose the internal organs. Remove the internal organs.

4. Carefully remove the digestive organs from the fish and place on a clean paper towel.

5. Draw and label the internal organs with special emphasis on the digestive
organs. Write and mark observations.

6. Uncoil the intestine and measure the gut length (from the pyloric sphincter to the
anus) using a calliper or ruler. Measure the fish body length (from snout to the end
of caudal fin). Measure the weight of gut. Then measure the weight of the fish.
Compute for the RGL.

7. Remove the gills of the fish and place on a clean paper towel.

8. Draw the gills, focusing on the gill rakers. Write and mark observations.

9. Do not forget to clean your worktables and keep your fish samples inside a small
trash bag after the laboratory session. Please throw the fish samples outside of the
laboratory (combustible trash can).

V. Results

Drawing of the external appearance of the fish sample

 Drawing of the internal appearance of the fish sample

Photo and measurement of the digestive organ of the fish sample

RGL computation:

Drawing of the gills and gill rakers of the fish sample

Illustrate a table enumerating the different parts of the digestive system of the fish
sample and describe its function.

VI. Guide questions

1. Why do carnivorous fish species have lower RGLs? Why do herbivorous fish have
higher RGLs?

2. From the RGLs, it may be concluded that herbivorous fish have the longest gut, but
not all herbivorous fish have long guts (i.e. gut lengths of some herbivorous fish are
shorter than those of carnivorous fish). Why?
 3. Based on your observation in this exercise, are the gill rakers a reliable indicator of
the diet of the fish? Why or why not? How about the RGLs? Why or why not?

VII. Conclusion.

References: